From NICU to nursing: Ara student receives Māori legacy scholarship  

_{Reia Hartgers is currently on placement at Christchurch Women’s hospital}

Ara Institute of Canterbury nursing student Reia Hartgers is celebrating a major milestone in her journey toward improving Māori health outcomes.

The second-year ākonga has been named a 2025 recipient of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Mere Harper and Ria Tikini Memorial Scholarship.

Currently completing a busy clinical placement in the gynaecological ward at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Hartgers says the scholarship will help ease financial pressures and allow time with whānau.

“It’s a real treat - it means I’ll be able to pause working part-time and spend weekends with my young family for a change,” she said. “It’s a privilege to be supported, honouring the legacy of Mere Harper and Ria Tikini as I work towards my career goals.”

Hartgers is one of two recipients this year, both passionate advocates for better Māori health outcomes.

The annual scholarship commemorates Mere Harper and Ria Tikini, two revered Māori midwives who were key figures in Plunket’s beginnings. It is awarded to full-time nursing students of Ngāi Tahu descent.

Hartgers’ path to nursing began with a personal experience - after spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with her own newborns, she made the decision to shift careers from hairdressing to healthcare.

Her long-term goal is to specialise in neonatal nursing, weaving Māori cultural values into her practice.

“I'm hoping to do a placement in NICU in my final year next year and also complete my community placement with Plunket ,” she said. “That said, my time on the gynaecology ward has been excellent and rewarding too.”

Established in 2020, the Mere Harper and Ria Tikini Memorial Scholarship continues to support the next generation of Māori nurses, honouring a legacy of care, resilience, and cultural leadership.

Read more about this year's announcement here.