Health initiative appeals to students

Maori secondary school students from around Northland gave up the first day of their school holidays to experience the life of a health professional at Whangarei Hospital.
Twelve Year 13 students took part in the Whakapiki Ake work exposure programme at the hospital on Monday, part of a national initiative to increase Maori participation in health professions.
Whangarei Hospital clinical support services general manager Neil Beney told the students it was important to have more Maori involved in the health system.
"What makes us comfortable is dealing with people like ourselves.
"Just having more Maori in health will give us better results," said Mr Beney.
The programme enabled students to learn about a range of services and hear from speakers specialising in Maori health, child psychiatry and child protection.
Northland District Health Board clinical nurse educator Helen Nortje said the programme exposed Maori students to the healthcare workforce and gave an insight to different career options.
"There's a lot more than just a doctor or nurse," she said.
The students from Dargaville, Whangarei boys' and girls' high schools, and Kaitaia, Bay of Islands and Northland colleges were given a tour of the hospital's surgical facilities where they donned surgical cloaks and caps and got hands-on with equipment.
Whangarei Boys' High School student Te Rata Boldy enjoyed the practical experience in theatre.
"It was awesome, I wore my theatre clothes all day," said Te Rata, who discovered the programme through his school career adviser and is now determined to find out more about Maori health.
The students, who all study subjects relevant to health careers, are part of a national Whakapiki Ake pilot project, a joint initiative between the University of Auckland, Ministry of Health, district health boards and about 30 North Island secondary schools.
Organised by Northland District Health Board's Te Poutokamanawa Maori Health Service Directorate, the programme is in its third year in Whangarei.
Yesterday students travelled to Auckland to visit the University of Auckland and plan their future studies.
Programme organiser Camron Muriwai said the programme provides students with valuable work exposure that may encourage them to pursue a career in medical or health sciences.
"We hope when they finish their studies some of them will return to Northland to start their working careers in health," he said.
Thirteen out of 15 Northland Maori students who participated in the programme in 2005 have now enrolled in a University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Science course.