2025 JR.BM Health Undergraduate Study Scholarships Announced
Three Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau employees have been awarded a 2025 JR.BM Scholarship supporting their health-specific undergraduate studies.
The JR.BM Scholarship is generously funded through an anonymous donation by a member of the public and has now supported 17 employees since 2018 in undergraduate health study.
Health NZ Interim District Finance Lead Vincent McColl said the selection panel received 14 scholarship applications for 2025.
"We are delighted to announce that employees Josephine Wehi, Karangatai Piripi and Katey Robinson have been offered a 2025 JR.BM Scholarship that funds up to 65 percent of their remaining educational study fees if they continue to make satisfactory progress with their studies until completion.”
Josephine Wehi from Ngāti Hine is employed as a Maternity Healthcare Assistant/Administration Support at Bay of Islands Hospital. She has completed her first year of the Bachelor of Health Science - Midwifery at the Auckland University of Technology—the JR.BM Scholarship will support the remainder two years of her degree.
"I have been so lucky to have been blessed with midwives who made each pregnancy experience incredible," offered Josephine. "I felt safe and empowered. I want to do the same for whānau in our community, make sure they feel as supported and powerful as I did bringing new life into the world.”
Karangatai Piripi, a Healthcare Assistant at Mental Health & Addiction Services in Kaitaia, is in her second year of a Bachelor of Nursing at Pūkenga (NorthTec). The JR.BM Scholarship will support the final year of her degree.
"The bird that eats the Miro Berries owns the forest. The bird that eats knowledge owns the world," Karangatai said.
"In my studies for the Batchelor of Nursing, I put this saying into practice. This quote is a wake-up call for young people / the Māori people to seek the path of knowledge so that each one's journey in their learning and growth in this world will be less demanding."
Mid-North Dental Assistant Katey Robinson is studying for a Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) at the Auckland University of Technology. In her first year of study, the JR.BM Scholarship will support the remaining two years of her degree. Katey is passionate about doing her part to build a stronger, more resilient dental workforce in Te Tai Tokerau.
"Being able to contribute to the oral health of our most vulnerable children is deeply fulfilling, especially working alongside schools to ensure children who need to be seen can access our care. Our work has a real community feel to it, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of a team making a difference."
The Northland Community Foundation manages the JR.BM Scholarship on behalf of Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau. The donor's endowment is invested in term deposit and the interest earned allows more eligible employees to be supported by the fund. Over the last six years, the JR.BM Scholarship has invested almost $85,000 in building strengthening the Te Tai Tokerau workforce.
"We are extremely grateful to our donor for enabling the development of our undergraduate workforce. Through this fund, we have grown our dental, nursing, mental health and maternity expertise, directly benefiting our staff and local communities," Vincent said.
For more information or if you would like to support Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau through an endowment or donation, please get in touch with Jane Stearns, Northland Community Foundation on 021 558224 or janes@northlandcommunityfoundation.org.nz
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