Te Kōunga o Te Hiringa – Gary Coghlan Studentship Programme

This studentship honours the legacy of the late Gary Coghlan, our longest-serving General Manager in Hauora Māori on the West Coast. Gary was deeply committed to workforce development and played a pivotal role in establishing the Studentship Programme for Te Tai o Poutini. His vision was to create meaningful opportunities for rangatahi to experience the realities and rewards of working in rural health.

Mā te kimi ka kite, mā te kite ka mōhio, mā te mōhio ka mārama.
Seek and discover, discover and know, know and become enlightened.

Kia hiwa rā!

Are you passionate about Māori or Pasifika health and considering a career in hauora? Do you live by the values of whanaungatanga (connection), arohatanga (compassion), and manaakitanga (kindness)

Applications are now open for students who are interested in rural health and who either:

• Reside on the West Coast,
• Have strong connections to the region, and/or
• Whakapapa to Te Tai o Poutini.

Mō te tūnga | About the Studentship 

• Six studentships are available, each valued at $5,000.
• Note:  Students may only be selected twice through their study journey.
• Students will be placed at a Health New Zealand (HNZ) facility on the West Coast, engaging in activities that support both their learning and contribute to HNZ projects, events, or initiatives.
• The programme runs for four weeks over the summer holiday period, starting with orientation on Monday, 11 January 2027  The final date of the programme is Friday 5 February 2027
• Students are expected to be on-site Monday to Friday, during normal working hours (8:30am – 4:30pm).
  

Purpose 

• Facilitate a valuable and enjoyable learning experience
• Support whakawhanaungatanga and networking
• Encourage students to consider a career in the West Coast rural workforce
  

Ko wai koe | About You

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be currently studying, enrolled, or intending to enrol in a recognised New Zealand Tertiary education institution in 2027.
• Have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in rural health, particularly within Te Tai o Poutini.
• Have lived on the West Coast or have strong ties or whakapapa to the region.

 If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply and take this opportunity to grow your skills and knowledge in a rural hauora setting.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

Spaces are limited.

To apply, please complete the application form by selecting "Apply now" 

Please include the following in your cover letter:

• A brief personal summary
• Your chosen study pathway and why
• Your career aspirations
• How this studentship will support your hauora journey.

Applications close: Sunday, 1 November 2026

For more information, contact: 📧 equitylead@wcdhb.health.nz

Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai – we look forward to hearing from you!

Apply now

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