Investing in Māori and Pasifika workforce development

Kahira Davis and Taryn Gillespie have been named Pinnacle’s Kia Puāwai education fund recipients, recognising two wāhine who are committed to their communities and are ready to take the next step in their own growth.

Each has received funding to pursue further education as part of Pinnacle's ongoing commitment to growing a workforce that reflects and serves Māori and Pasifika communities.

Before receiving the award, Kahira worked full-time as programme support for Pinnacle's School-Based Health Services. The funding means she can now balance part-time mahi with part-time study as she begins Te Ara Pūtake – New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4), a Wintec programme that builds academic skills and confidence, and opens pathways to further study and employment. Kahira's first day of study happened to coincide with her son's first day of school, making it a shared whānau milestone. This is Kahira’s first step toward a Bachelor of Nursing and her long-term goal of becoming a registered school nurse.

Kahira was inspired to become a registered nurse by the colleagues around her. "While working in the school-based health services team, I see the mahi they do, how much they care about our rangatahi and how much they advocate for them," she says. "This fund has removed the barrier of cost and I am truly thankful. I hope one day I can make a difference in someone's life." 

Teresa McGovern, services manager School-Based Health Services, has watched Kahira’s progress firsthand. “It has been an absolute pleasure to watch and support her grow both professionally and personally. Kahira has a kind soul and a natural instinct to help others. There is no doubt in my mind she is going to make a fantastic, registered nurse and her care and advocacy will support patients and service delivery for years to come.”

Taryn works as a Support to Screening mobile health nurse at Pinnacle. She is embarking on a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science at the University of Waikato, with a focus on Māori and Pasifika health, an area that connects directly to her Samoan heritage and her commitment to improving health outcomes for the communities she serves. The papers align directly with her current role in community health and speak to her desire to better understand the ways and means of achieving equitable health outcomes. 

For Taryn, the decision to apply wasn't without hesitation. "I was a bit hesitant to go back to study as it had been eight years since my last paper," she says. "But I saw the paper for Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Hauora and thought — wow, that really resonates with my current practice. I look forward to my studies helping me grow and feel a deeper connection to my culture, and move into new spaces where I can better serve our people and improve health outcomes."  

Taryn’s manager, Selena Batt, regional support manager Screening Services, is equally enthusiastic. “Taryn consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to improving access to care for whānau who may otherwise face barriers to screening services. She brings a thoughtful, relationship-based approach to her mahi, engaging with people in a way that builds trust and supports positive health outcomes. I have no doubt that further study will enhance her already strong contribution and enable her to have an even greater impact within our service and the wider community.”

Pinnacle's scholarships are designed to enable kaimahi to pursue qualifications that strengthen their skills, support leadership pathways, and enhance the care they provide for whānau and their communities. Supporting professional development is central to Pinnacle's commitment to equity and to addressing persistent health disparities across the region. 

"Kahira's determination to create new pathways for herself, and Taryn's passion for improving health outcomes for her community, reflect the very purpose of this fund," says Rāwiri Blundell, GM Māori health and equity. "Together, they represent the spirit of aspiration, resilience, and future-focused leadership that Kia Puāwai aims to uplift. Their journeys are just beginning, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make."