Joy and fulfilment in helping people and community

Recognised for her role supporting others during Cyclone Gabrielle, community remains at the heart of Dr Maia Tipene’s mahi.

Just after graduating with an MB ChB at the end of 2023, Maia (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Awa) was named a semi-finalist in the 2024 Kiwibank Young New Zealander of the Year Awards.

She was nominated for her pivotal role in the Cyclone Gabrielle response in Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay. As an Otago sixth-year trainee at the time, Maia spent four weeks on the ground, contributing 2,627 hours of disaster relief work.

She served as the key liaison between Taskforce Kiwi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tihei Mauri Ora, and the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group, her leadership earning her the role of Rotation Commander, overseeing a multinational volunteer team.

We caught up with Maia who is now in her second year as a House Officer in Te Tai Tokerau Northland, after working as a Trainee Intern in Te Matau-a-Māui for a year.

Q&A with Dr Maia Tipene

Firstly, can you tell us about your current role and what you find most satisfying?

I am currently a PGY2 (Postgraduate Year Two) House officer at Whangarei Hospital. I am in month three of a six-month rotation in our emergency department. I then move on to a placement in palliative care at Northhaven Hospice for three months and relief work for the remainder.

I find my mahi and progression in my career to be the most motivating thing. I find immense joy in helping people, particularly within my own community, Te Tai Tokerau.

How did your career path develop after Otago, to take you to where you are today?

I was able to work within my own community and give back to the people that had put so much energy and time into my growth.

I will then progress into my return of service contract with the New Zealand Defence Force. Here, I will work for a minimum of three years, based in Palmerston North.  Within this role I will be a Medical Officer – as a part of this position I will be expected to provide high-quality healthcare to defence personnel at home, on exercise, and on operations.

Back to the beginning – can you tell us a little about your path to Otago?

I chose Otago because I received a scholarship. Like many, the financial ability of my whānau to support my studies and accommodation was limited. A scholarship relieved a lot of this financial burden.

After attending REACH (Realising Educational Aspirations for Careers in Health) – an on-campus experience for high-school leavers, I fell in love with campus, the atmosphere and everything that came with being a prospective student.

What do you value most about your time at Otago?

The connections that I made. I believe that attending a university like Otago, contributes to your growth as a teenager moving into young adulthood. I grew in confidence and maturity.