Hammering away at his studies: labourer becomes a doctor 

Growing up in Browns Bay on Auckland’s North Shore, Dr Joshua Brown never considered medicine as a career path. In fact, he didn’t think it was possible. The simplicity of his life inspired him to pursue a trade, and he began working as a labourer at just 13 years old.  

“I’d always wanted to be a builder,” he says. “I took subjects like wood tech and engineering at school. It really appealed to me from an early age, and I thought I had my life planned out.” 

Joshua attended Long Bay College, which he describes as having “farmy vibes” back then, though he’s seen the area develop into a bustling suburb in recent years. 

His family introduced him to Whakapiki Ake, an initiative led by the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau. 

“When Dad encouraged me to attend a Whakapiki Ake session, I thought, ‘Why not give medicine a crack? At least I’ll have my building apprenticeship to fall back on if it doesn’t work out,’” he recalls. 

But it did work out. Joshua, now 25, discovered a passion for medicine that he hadn’t anticipated. 

“I realised I’m actually really passionate about this,” he says. 

Joshua’s academic journey began with a Certificate in Health Sciences in 2018, where he learned about the human body, and exploring the intricate connections between the mind, body, and spirituality. 

“The more I got into studying, the more passionate I became,” he says. “It wasn’t just about meeting deadlines for assignments – it was a genuine desire to learn.” 

However, his studies also exposed him to the systemic inequities faced by Māori and Pacific people in healthcare, which he says was a real eye-opener.  

“Discovering the injustices of the New Zealand health system towards Māori and Pacific really started to tilt my passion into drive even more.”

In his final year, Joshua completed his placement at Middlemore Hospital, which serves a large Māori and Pacific population. He will officially start there as a junior doctor in 2025, leaving behind his labouring days, but acknowledges how vital it’s been to be able to work part-time as a labourer. 

“While studying, I kept working as a labourer between Glover homes and NZ Builders. I’ve been doing this for the last decade. They’re both really great teams and surprisingly actually taught me skills and qualities that I use every day in the hospital,” he says. 

“Working in trades from an early age significantly helped my ability to connect and engage with people from different backgrounds which definitely played a huge part in helping me progress through med school.”

Throughout his six-year degree, Joshua was supported by the Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS) and credits the whole team, but especially his supervisor, Akanesi Moala, for her guidance.

On 9 December, the MAPAS students held a special celebration with friends and whānau who had supported them throughout the challenges of academic learning.  

“MAPAS has been fantastic. It’s a supportive environment with pastoral care, and you’re surrounded by like-minded students who are just as motivated,” he says. “It’s been a saviour. The friendships and connections I’ve made through MAPAS are lifelong.” 

On 10 December, in a ceremony at the Auckland Town Hall, Joshua graduated alongside around 270 other medical students, in various fields.  

Looking ahead, he is excited about his future in medicine and hopes to specialise in emergency medicine. 

“I want to say a massive churr to my whānau, because I would never be where I am today without their endless help and support. They all pointed me in the right direction to finding my ‘why’ in life, a profession where I can lead by example and look after our people every day.”