Whanganui local Jade Mills spent her formative years inspired by kapa haka – and now she wants to give back by studying towards a degree focusing on Māori health.
Mills, who is of Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Rangi descent, received a University of Otago Māori and Pacific People's EntranceScholarship valued at $10,000.
The first-year Health Sciences student says living and studying at Otago and relocating from Whanganui to Dunedin was an easy decision, but one her family struggled with.
"It's just my mum and I at home and my mum is studying as well, so neither of us are quite well off, so going to Otago was a huge financial stress for both of us.
"When I received the scholarship, it was like a weight had been lifted off the shoulders and it kind-of made me realise it was possible to go down and do what I had dreamed of doing."
Jade grew up surrounded by kapa haka, and was at one stage involved in four different groups.
Kapa haka, she says, helps her celebrate and connect with her culture and community. The Māori Health major, then, makes perfect sense for the 18-year-old.
"The [Māori Health] major combines two things I'm very passionate about," Mills says.
"I'm passionate about health and looking after people, and I care very much about the Māori culture and want to keep it going."
She says she has received a lot of support from both the residential college she is staying at, Cumberland College, and Te Huka Matauraka, the University's Māori Centre.
"The Māori Centre has been really, really supportive and made me feel like it was another family and made me feel like it was a home from away home.
"[Cumberland] has been really cool too. It's been great to meet people from all over the place and make some really good friends as well."
There's also another group she has been connecting with. She has also been heading along to kapa haka practices with Te Roopu Māori ahead of the annual Te Huinga Tauira o Te Mana Ākonga event.
An avid performer, Mills says she cannot wait to get on stage again and illustrate the importance Māoritanga holds for her.
"Kapa haka has really helped me with all the messages portrayed through the songs, it's helped me expand my knowledge of the language.
"That's what has given me my major passion for our culture."
