Introduction
Ko Karioi tooku maunga
Ko Waikato tooku awa
Ko Tainui tooku waka
Ko Waikato-Tainui me Ngaai Tahu ooku iwi
Ko Poihakena tooku marae
Ko Ngāti Whawhaakia me Tainui Awhiro ooku hapuu
Ko Charlotte Tukiri tooku ingoa
Kia ora koutou!
I am beyond humbled to write to you all, as I prepare to embark on PMSLA to Chile. As a first year Health Sciences (pre-clinical) student at Waipapa Taumata Rau, indigenous public health is a passion of mine I am eager to grow. I feel honoured to be able to soon engage with Indigenous communities in Chile, and I can’t wait to listen to the whakaaro regarding Indigeneity on their whenua.
Studying at Waipapa Taumata Rau has allowed me to meet individuals of all different walks of life, solidifying the power and beauty of diversity. We all contribute our unique threads of culture to the common web of humanity — PMSLA is an opportunity to expand this web, providing new cultural experiences and perspectives.
I want to pass all I learn from this experience on to the next generation, empowering our rangatahi to dream big and put themselves out of their comfort zones. I owe it to the tuaakana in my life for being my pou whirinaki, supporting me through this kauapapa and others alike.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you all — arohanui ki a koutou!
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Ka kite… ano.
Kia ora! Although this is my final blog in the Prime Minister’s Scholarship schedule, nothing about writing this feels ‘final’. Over the past week back in my tūrangawaewae, I have missed the sites, atmosphere and experiences I had in Chile; however, I have the solace of knowing that more journeys in Latin America are on…Continue…