Hospice Scholarship 2025

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is proud to celebrate nursing student Tirakahurangi (Tira) Wardlaw-Ruru, the recipient of a $10,000 Hospice Scholarship awarded by Hospice Eastern Bay of Plenty. This is the first time a nursing tauira from the Wānanga has received the scholarship. 

Presented at a ceremony yesterday in Whakatāne, attended by her whānau, nursing tauira, wānanga staff, and Hospice EBOP CEO Bryce Sheedy, the scholarship acknowledges Tira’s outstanding commitment to palliative care, academic excellence, and the compassionate leadership she brings to both her studies and her mahi. 

As he awarded the scholarship, Bryce Sheedy spoke of Tira’s contribution to the organisation, and the important connection between Hospice EBOP and Awanuiārangi. 

“When Tira came to us on placement, she instantly fitted into the team. Along with everything that she’s studied, she brings her love of whanau and community to the role, and we are all learning a lot from her.  

“This scholarship is just one way that we are cementing the relationship between two Whakatāne organisations who care so much for the community. We’ve also recently made the decision at Board level to only take Awanuiārangi students to fill future placements here at Hospice.” 

Tira’s journey with Hospice EBOP began during her second-year community placement. Her dedication and cultural insight quickly made an impression, and she was offered a part-time role soon after.  

“Although I’d love to say the role was created just for me, it really came down to being in the right place at the right time. The team at EBOP Hospice had been working hard to strengthen their connection with whānau, hapū, and iwi across our rōhe. Part of that included creating a Palliative Care Assistant role, and I was fortunate to help fill that need.” 

She adds that her personal experience with hospice, as a whānau member, deepened her calling to the profession. 

“I’ve witnessed the way hospice services walk alongside whānau through some of the most vulnerable times of their lives and they do it with such dignity and compassion. It truly takes a special kind of aroha to do this work.” 

Tira says her upbringing, immersed in tikanga Māori, prepared her well for this mahi. 

“As Māori, values like manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and aroha aren’t just principles — they’re who we are. Growing up on the marae, surrounded by love and support from our kuia and koroua, it’s natural to carry that spirit into how we care for our people, even as they transition ki te ao wairua.” 

While passionate about this work, Tira acknowledges there are still too few Māori working in the palliative care space. 

“There are not as many Māori that I’m aware of working in this space, particularly in the Mataatua rōhe. For me, it is a privilege to be even a small part of helping make that time a little easier and more meaningful for whānau and their loved ones. I know firsthand how hard it can be, and the awhi that hospice provides is invaluable.” 

Currently in her final year of the Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing programme, Tira will complete her 12-week transition placement with Hospice EBOP, as well as spend time at Waipuna Hospice’s inpatient unit in Tauranga Moana. 

Receiving the scholarship has had a major impact, both personally and professionally. 

“It’s given my whānau and me some much-needed financial relief, allowing me to continue this journey without added stress. But more than that, it affirms that I’m on the right path — that there’s value and recognition in the mahi I hope to continue doing as a future Māori nurse in palliative care.” 

This milestone marks an important moment for both Tira and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, highlighting the strength of culturally grounded health education and the power of kaupapa Māori in caring for whānau Māori.