27 February 2008

Media Release

Applications for Hauora Māori Scholarships 2008 open

Associate Health Minister Mita Ririnui today urged Māori students to apply for Hauora Māori Scholarships to assist them in pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate health or health-related courses.

Application forms can be downloaded from the Ministry of Health’s website ( http://www.moh.govt.nz) from 27 February 2008. Applications close at 5PM on 11 April 2008.

Individual grants for studies in medicine and dental surgery have been increased this year from $2500 to $4000 to reflect the expected tuition fees for 2008. Allocations for the other seven categories funded have also been adjusted to ensure the grants cover from 31 to 37 per cent of the annual tuition fees.

Mr Ririnui also announced the release of the Te Apa Mareikura Award. This scholarship has been established under the programme to acknowledge four prominent Maori community leaders for their contribution to the improvement of Maori health. The four community leaders are Rongo Wirepa, Anne Delamare, Denis Simpson and Bill Katene.

Recipients of the Te Apa Mareikura scholarships would have demonstrated competencies in community health, strong connections to and involvement with the community, proven leadership ability, effective community networks and academic performance that contributed to future Maori health gains. In 2008, two scholarships, at $10,000 each, will be awarded at the discretion of the Assessment Panel.

The prestigious John Mcleod Award also grants two scholarships annually to applicants who have achieved outstanding academic success in Māori health. The successful recipients of this award will receive $10,000 each.

“The Hauora Maori scholarship programme supports the Government’s efforts to promote greater Maori participation in the health and disability workforce,” Mr Ririnui noted.

“Developing competent and flexible Maori health workers is important in improving health outcomes for Maori and in providing appropriate care to Maori individuals and their whanau.”

The Ministry of Health receives over 600 applications each year for the Hauora Maori Scholarships.

Hauora Maori Scholarships are available to anyone who is:

•    enrolled and attending a University, Polytechnic, Wananga or College of education
•    studying a health-related, NZQA-accredited course of at least 12 weeks in duration
•    can demonstrate a commitment to and/or competence in Maori health and well-being studies
•    has whakapapa and/or cultural links with te ao Maori or Maori communities.

ENDS

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