25.05.2023
Like much of the world, New Zealand is currently experiencing a dire, nationwide shortage of midwives. Here at the Haakaa Foundation, we wholeheartedly appreciate just how valuable and necessary midwives are to New Zealand women and their families during such an important and vulnerable time in their lives. Our goal is to strengthen this strained network of maternity healthcare professionals by providing financial support to midwifery students looking to practice in small-town and rural communities, as well as those of Māori or Pasifika-descent, with the aim to increase the number of midwives available to women living in these places and reduce the stress of pregnancy and birth.
As such, we are honoured to show our support for those entering and currently working in this noble profession by providing selected students scholarships worth up to $2000 each. These scholarships are intended to help maternity care students during their studies by relieving some of the financial burdens they find themselves under. Our first round has so far provided three of six available scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate Midwifery students at AUT. This is just the first stage, so make sure to check back regularly to see which other maternity education institutions we expand this funding to!
Congratulations to the following students – we look forward to supporting many more:
- Awhiora Winmill-Nia Nia
- Vanessa Crofskey
- Izabella Presling-Cook
Tania Fleming, Head of AUT’s Midwifery Department, had these kind words to say regarding the scholarships:
“The scholarships provided by the Haakaa Foundation for our third-year Pacific Island and Māori midwifery students are immensely valuable, enabling the talented young practitioners to focus on their studies and important practical work in the communities they serve. As such, they are well on their way to becoming successful midwives and will make significant contributions to Māori and Pacific Island whānau for years to come.”
“These scholarships are intended to help maternity care students during their studies by relieving some of the financial burdens they find themselves under.”
