Tia Tiata
After returning to study through the Certificate in Health Sciences, Tia Tahata discovered a pathway into healthcare that combined her interest in biology with a long-term goal of supporting communities through medicine.
“I was interested in studying health, but I hadn’t taken
biology in high school, so I thought that might limit my options,” she says.
“The certificate gave me the opportunity to study biology alongside maths,
chemistry, physics, and population health, and it gave me a really strong
foundation for undergraduate study.”
Originally from Te Awamutu in the Waikato, Tia says one ofthe biggest benefits of the programme was the supportive learning environment.
“It helped me build confidence not only in my knowledge, but
also in my study methods and routines,” she says. “The lecturers were really
approachable and it felt like a safe place to ask questions and figure things
out.”
The programme also gave Tia the chance to experience
university life in a more connected and supportive setting before moving into
further study.
“MAPAS became a really important support system for me while
I was away from home,” she says. “It felt like there were always people around
who genuinely wanted us to succeed.”
One of the standout moments of the year was taking part in a
semester two study wānanga, which helped strengthen connections betweenstudents and created a strong sense of community.
“It brought everyone closer together,” she says. “You
realise pretty quickly that everyone’s there to support each other.”
Looking ahead, Tia hopes to continue studying health and
eventually work in communities where she can make a meaningful difference
through patient care and wellbeing.
“I want to create a culture of uplifting others wherever I
end up,” she says. “Helping people improve their health and quality of life is
what motivates me.”