"It felt like we were all part of one whānau, always ready to support each other.”

Twenty-five-year-old Aarona Hellesoe, who is soon to graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing Maaori from Te Tohu Paetahi Tikanga Rangatira aa-Tapuhi (MIT), currently lives with his partner Lydia and their six-year-old son, Kingston, in Onehunga.

He’s working as a graduate surgical nurse in the orthopaedic and spinal cord injury ward at Middlemore Hospital.

“I find great joy in my work,” says Aarona. “Each day presents new challenges and opportunities. Building connections with people from diverse backgrounds is a rewarding aspect of my role, as I strive to make a positive impact to their lives.”

Aarona was born in Hamilton and grew up in Ngaruawahia.  He moved to Ranui in West Auckland when he was seven, and then five years later, moved in with his sister and started at Rutherford High School in Te Atatu.

“Both my parents worked tirelessly to support me and my siblings. I feel grateful to have been raised in a family where education and learning were always prioritised.

“Despite being Māori and Pacific, my parents demonstrated that we don't have to conform to stereotypes or statistics. They instilled in me the belief that we can defy expectations and set our own path.”

Two years after finishing school, Aarona enrolled in a bridging education course at Unitec, completing a Certificate in University Preparation in 2019.

He went on to work as an assistant manager in a retail outlet in Onehunga, where a chance encounter with a friend made him question his focus.

“A friend I knew from high school stopped by and shared his post-graduation experiences, how he’d graduated from university, gone overseas and was now working in this amazing job. It made me wonder whether I was content with a lifelong career in retail, and what my purpose in life was.

“Seeing someone I knew succeed in pursuing their dreams inspired me to question why I couldn't do the same.”

Although he was initially interested in becoming a paramedic, Aarona hadn't pursued it after completing his bridging course.

“Nursing wasn't on my radar either, partly due to the scarcity of male nurses in my perception,” he says.

“However, my mother and my partner's mother had persistently advocated for my higher education, particularly in nursing. Despite my hesitations, financial concerns, and wavering confidence, their encouragement eventually nudged me towards taking the leap.

“It was my partner's mother, a nurse and MIT graduate herself, who recommended the Bachelor of Nursing Maaori programme at MIT, sparking my interest in pursuing a nursing career from a culturally enriched perspective.

Aarona says what he enjoyed most about the course was the emphasis on community and personal connection.

“Being naturally drawn to working with people and my community, the smaller class size of the Māori nursing degree at MIT was particularly beneficial. Rather than feeling lost in a sea of students, it felt like we were all part of one whānau, always ready to support each other.

“Having incredible lecturers who genuinely care about their students made a significant difference in the learning experience. They made us feel comfortable asking questions without fear of judgment and empowered us to fully engage and reach our potential.

“One of the highlights for me was the encouragement to embrace my culture. While I'm still on my journey of discovering my whakapapa, this course motivated me to integrate my culture into every aspect of my nursing care. It made me realise that I was already expressing my Māori identity every day, as the core values of the programme deeply resonated with me.

Aarona says he would highly recommend MIT’s Bachelor of Nursing to anyone passionate about making a difference to people's lives and the world.

“Specifically, the Māori and Pacific nursing degrees offer a unique and invaluable educational experience,” he says. “Regardless of one's culture, the teaching methods and frameworks utilised at MIT provide a distinctive approach not typically found in mainstream nursing education.

“This diverse and inclusive environment creates a deeper understanding and appreciation for different perspectives, enriching the learning journey for all students.

“During my time at MIT, working in a stroke rehabilitation ward as a healthcare assistant was transformative. The mentors and colleagues I came across there profoundly influenced my journey. They not only enhanced my ability to establish meaningful connections, or whakawhanaungatanga, with patients, but also reshaped my perception of nursing. Their guidance underscored the impact nurses have on people's lives. It's through their mentorship that I came to realise nursing isn't just about saving lives; it's about empowering individuals to reclaim their lives.

“I'm incredibly grateful for the support and mentorship provided by Nga Ringa Awhina, the organisation for Māori nursing students of MIT. Their dedication to our success was evident through their establishment of a supportive network of Māori nurses, who we could reach out to for assistance whenever needed. Additionally, they organised tutorials outside of regular school hours, which proved instrumental in my academic journey. It's not an exaggeration to say that I owe my success in nursing exams and my career to the invaluable assistance of Nga Ringa Awhina and Dr. Dana Karem.

Aarona hopes to complete his postgraduate studies and specialise in a nursing field, helping to contribute to the growth of the next generation of nurses.

“Moreover, I aim to actively encourage more men, Pacific Islanders, and Māori to pursue nursing careers, actively participating in their encouragement and support.

“I aspire to be a role model for younger generations, showing them that success isn't solely defined by grades, appearance, or predetermined norms. Anyone can do it – you just need to follow your dreams.”