News

A Rotorua university student is one of 17 recipients of the Southern Cross Health Trust’s nursing scholarships.

The scholarships were set up in partnership with Auckland’s AUT university to support Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) and Master of Nursing Science students with financial assistance, priority clinical placement at Southern Cross hospitals, and mentorship.

Darnique Te Aonui, 21, who is in her second year of a nursing degree at AUT, is one of the first cohort of scholarship recipients.

“I was pretty shocked at first, but now, I’m buzzing,” she says.

“Winning this scholarship feels incredible.”

As the first in her family to attend university, Te Aonui moved to Auckland in 2022 to pursue her nursing studies while balancing a part time job at McDonald’s.

She says the financial burden of living in the city and managing both work and clinical placements makes the scholarship win even more meaningful.

“I was really struggling to see how I would fit in work and my clinical placement, so this makes a big difference.”

More than just financial support, including a weekly stipend during placements, and a wellbeing allowance, the nursing scholarships offer priority clinical placements in Southern Cross hospital network and access to mentorship from experienced nurses.

As the second eldest of seven siblings, Te Aonui says she wants to inspire her whanau and prove that there are opportunities.

“I just want people from similar backgrounds to know that they can make a change in their family.

“I wasn’t surrounded by many opportunities growing up, so when they come, you have to grab them to make a difference.”

Scholarships are open now for AUT Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) students entering their first, second or third year of studies in Semester two, 2025.