The Ōpōtiki Community Health Trust has announced its 2026 scholarship recipients, recognising local students pursuing careers across nursing, medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, oral health, counselling, social work and emergency care.

The announcement was made at the trust’s board of trustees meeting last month.

Scholarship recipients:

■ Tomairangi Broughton — Bachelor of Health Science Māori Nursing

■ Summer Parekura-Kingi — Bachelor of Health Science Oral Health

■ Tynealle Fitzgerald — Bachelor of Physiotherapy

■ Brooke Leeder – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)

■ Niamh Steens – Bachelor of Dental Surgery

■ Maia Purcell – Bachelor of Medicine

■ Roimata Culligan-Bristow – Bachelor of Oral Health

■ Shaughnessy Reha – Bachelor of Social Work

■ Rose-Dawn Koopu – Bachelor of Applied Counselling

■ Crystal Parata – Bachelor of Health Science Māori Nursing

■ Jarrod Paget-Knebel – Paramedic based at Ruatoria

Trustees also extended special congratulations to Crystal Parata and Jarrod Paget-Knebel, who have completed their studies and are working in the Tairāwhiti region.

The trust also distributed two grants of $5000 each to local health providers.

Ōpōtiki Plunket received help to provide child car seats and Te Kaha Medical Centre received a grant to fund additional equipment for its new Waihau Bay facility

The Ōpōtiki Community Health Trust was established in 1996 following the closure of Ōpōtiki Hospital, when the then Bay of Plenty Health Board provided compensation to the people of Ōpōtiki.

That funding was placed into the trust, which is governed by a board consisting of four trustees appointed by Whakatōhea, three elected community members, one Health Authority trustee and two trustees appointed from health care providers.

Its purpose is to promote and improve community health standards and to use trust funds to help facilitate or improve medical services, health care, disability services and other health services across the Ōpōtiki district.

Traditionally, it has provided annual educational scholarships and health provider grants but is considering other ways it can respond more directly to the district’s current and future health needs.

The trust has reinvested its capital with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation, strengthening its financial position.

Anyone seeking more information about the Ōpōtiki Community Health Trust, including scholarships and grants, can email [email protected] or visit www.ochealthtrust.org.