Fibre broadband expansion to 95% of NZ gets green light – a win for rural connectivity
The Infrastructure Commission has endorsed a plan by Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of New Zealand much to the delight of rural women.
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says scholarships awarded to 27 healthcare students yesterday are another step forward to boosting the rural health workforce.
The scholarships range from $2,500 to $5,000 and were awarded to assist students from rural backgrounds continue their study in healthcare.
The scholarships come from a funding pool of $90,000 provided to Rural Women New Zealand by Te Whatu Ora.
The students receiving the scholarships are studying a range of specialities from medicine, nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, pharmacy, Māori nursing and applied counselling.
“We know access to health care within rural communities, or being supported to access care when required, are key issues for rural communities. To improve access and rural health outcomes we need to invest in growing the rural health workforce,” says Doocey.
“I would like to congratulate the 27 students who have received scholarships and wish them all the best in their future studies and hope that they have a long and fulfilling career in healthcare,” he adds.
Rural Women New Zealand chief executive Marie Fitzpatrick says there was a “huge level of interest” in the scholarships.
“It can be extremely difficult to undertake study from a rural community and anything we can do to make study a little bit easier is great,” Fitzgerald says.
“While these scholarships cannot solve some of the challenges of travel and studying away from family and whanau, it is our hope they can help alleviate some of the students’ financial challenges,” she says.
“We know New Zealand faces a significant shortage of health professionals in our rural towns and regional communities, so it is great to see recipients studying in a broad range of fields including in the areas of medicine, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, physiotherapy and counselling.”
Dr Sarah Clarke, national clinical director primary and community care at Te Whatu Ora says she congratulates the successful applicants and wants to recognise their hard work and commitment to their studies.
“Addressing the rural health workforce shortage is a priority for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and we are committed to improving health outcomes for our rural communities,” Clarke says.
“I look forward to seeing these scholarship recipients joining our rural health workforce over the coming years as they complete their studies.”
A Chinese business leader says Chinese investors are unfairly viewed as potential security risks in New Zealand.
In the first of two articles focusing on electrification in New Zealand, Leo Argent talks with Mike Casey, operator of the 100% electric-operated Electric Cherries orchard and founder of advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reiterated New Zealand’s ‘China And’ policy, adding that it wasn’t about choosing one market over another but creating more options for exporters.
A long running trade dispute between New Zealand and Canada over dairy access has been resolved.
New Zealand Police is urging rural property owners to remain vigilant and ensure their property is secure.
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