Whāriki - Māori weaving.

Whakapiki Ake
Te Whē

Te Whē is a one-day, fully immersive kaupapa designed to inspire rangatahi Māori into health by offering exposure to hands-on experiences, real-world examples of health careers, and interactive workshops exploring health sciences. Te Whē is available in Auckland (Years 10-11), Tauranga (Year 11), and Whakatāne (Year 11).

Students engaging in practical chemistry and biology workshops at Grafton Campus, Auckland University.

Hands-on Learning Experience

Te Whē delivers interactive healthcare workshops uniquely designed for each region and year level. In Auckland, Year 10-11 rangatahi engage with university facilities and academic staff through specialised 40–45 minute workshops in Physics, Biology, Anatomy, Optometry and Vision Science, and Chemistry. In Tauranga, the program centers around partnerships with Tauranga Hospital, with Year 11 rangatahi experiencing various healthcare settings and activities. These may include special events with St John Ambulance and other healthcare providers, offering hands-on experiences like IV training, wound management, and CPR. In Whakatāne, the Year 11 program combines practical healthcare experiences with science workshops supported by the Whakatāne Hospital, all under the guidance of experienced healthcare professionals and cultural leadership from kaumātua.

Pathway to Health Sciences

Te Whē creates a bridge between secondary education and future health careers through strong regional partnerships. The Auckland program provides direct university exposure, while Tauranga and Whakatāne programs are strengthened by collaborations with the Bay of Plenty DHB, Regional Māori Health Services, and local healthcare providers. These partnerships ensure rangatahi receive comprehensive exposure to healthcare pathways, with each region offering unique insights into local healthcare delivery. The program emphasises the importance of core subjects while grounding the learning experience in tikanga Māori through karakia, mihi whakatau, and waiata. This regional approach, supported by local health organisations and educational partners, creates meaningful pathways for rangatahi to explore and pursue careers in healthcare.

Student from Tauranga Boy's College bandaging a dummy during the Te Whē workshop at Tauranga Hospital.
Whakapiki Ake students posing for a photo with the St John helicopter and emergency response team during Te Whē.

Te Whē Testimonials

“Even if you’re not looking to go into a health science career, the course is still very interesting. It explains lots of different subject pathways which is really helpful. It’s always good to have lots of people with basic first aid knowledge in case of an emergency. I think it really helped to build my confidence too.” – Year 10 from Tauranga Girls College.

“I enjoyed all of it but liked doing the IV injections into the dummy the most. It has made me interested in health and to help people by wanting to become a doctor. I want to study health to be a doctor.” – Year 10 from Te Wharekura O Mauao.

“The objective is to highlight health career opportunities to rangatahi and provide them with an opportunity to meet health professionals from all different specialties.” – Bay of Plenty District Health Board Kia Ora Hauora.

“Invited to the Whakapiki Ake – Te Whē programme, where 4 of our Year 11 students looked at health careers at the University of Auckland. They were fascinated by the Whakaaro Pai, Medical Sciences Learning Centre and found learning about Optometry – a career which combines physics and health, good work-life balance and a great salary. It was a good taster for what they might learn if they choose to study health.” – Year 11 from Otahuhu College.

“The visit to the rescue helicopter and learning about the emergency response was a highlight for me. It’s sparked an interest in paramedicine I didn’t know I had.” – Year 11 from Otumoetai College.