Largest Nursing Cohort
Wānanga Marks Milestone with Largest Nursing Cohort
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi has welcomed its largest-ever intake for Te Ohanga Mataora – Bachelor of Health Science Māori Nursing, with 116 tauira beginning their 2025 journey this week.
The cohort was formally welcomed with a pōhiri at the Whakatāne main campus on Monday. Travelling from across Aotearoa for this milestone occasion, tauira had the opportunity to meet their kaiako, connect with the wider nursing team, and build relationships with their peers as they embark on their studies.
Sheree Spooner, Head of School for Undergraduate Studies, explains, “The increasing interest in Māori nursing speaks to the critical need for culturally competent healthcare providers. Our largest-ever intake shows the strength of this programme and the commitment of our tauira to making a real difference in Māori health."
Among the cohort is a group of 10 nursing tauira from Muriwhenua, the first to undertake the degree in the Far North. This local initiative is supported by Te Hiku Hauora, Kaitaia Hospital, whānau, hapū, and iwi, aiming to grow their own workforce and increase the number of registered nurses in their rohe.
Sheree says, "Just like our delivery in Wairoa, we are meeting the educational needs of whānau in the Far North by improving access to quality training. I am proud that Awanuiārangi continues to serve and support underserved communities. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Te Hiku Hauora, solidifying our partnership."
Alongside the nursing degree Awanuiārangi also offers the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 2. See link below for more information.

Largest-ever intake for the nursing degree at Awanuiārangi.

First-year tauira of the nursing degree and their whānau are welcomed onto our main campus in Whakatāne.

Sheree Spooner is the Head of School for Undergraduate studies at Awanuiārangi.
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Sarah Ropati
- Phone: 027 271 9739
- Email: sarah.ropati@wananga.ac.nz