Health student embraces rural Northland challenges and ties to study midwifery

Midwifery student Eloise Matete hopes to prove to others that studying something you are passionate about is possible, even if you’re from rural Northland. Matete (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou) has just received a $5000 scholarship from Rural Women NZ, as part of a Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora initiative to support rural health students . The funding will go on study costs , as she is halfway through a four-year degree to be a midwife.

Coming from Mangamuka, a lot of those costs involve travel and Matete has temporarily moved her family to Whangārei while she completes a five-week placement at the region’s largest hospital. Matete said having her two children, now aged 5 and 9, was a huge motivation to get into midwifery..