Third-year medical student Arabella Urwin has been named the 2025 recipient of the Ngāi Tamarāwaho Peri Kohu Memorial Scholarship, a $5000 award supporting aspiring graduates into fields where the hapū is under-represented – particularly medicine.

Urwin (Ngāti Ranginui, Te Ātiawa ki Taranaki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pāoa and Waikato-Tainui) is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Auckland.

Now entering her third year, she said her pathway into medicine had been shaped by whānau, loss and a deep commitment to improving hauora (health) outcomes for Māori.

“I want to become the doctor that my tūpuna [ancestors] and kaumātua [elders] never had,” Urwin said.

“Too often, our people have faced a healthcare system that does not see them, hear them or serve them in ways that align with their needs. I want to help change that.”

Although raised in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Urwin maintained strong connections to Tauranga Moana through her father’s side.

Summers were spent back home with whānau and she said the pull to eventually return and serve her community had always been strong.

Educated at Saint Mary’s College from Years 7–13, Urwin began her schooling in full immersion te reo Māori through Kōhanga Reo and kura kaupapa.

While her family later chose a different educational pathway, those early years grounded her firmly in te ao Māori – something Urwin now carries with her into medicine.

Her desire to work in health was sparked early. Urwin was just 7 when her grandmother – who had raised her for much of her childhood – passed away.

“We were used to being in hospital environments and visiting her,” she said.

“As I got older, I became more interested in the human body and wanted a career that was academically challenging but also meaningful.”

Arabella Urwin at the Huria Marae, in Judea, Tauranga. She is currently studying toward a Bachelor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Surgery at University of Auckland. Photo / Jo Jones

She later came to understand her motivation ran even deeper. With a younger brother who has autism, Urwin recalls wanting, as a child, to “find a cure”.

“My ‘why’ is definitely rooted in having a brother with a disability,” she said.

“It’s led me towards wanting to work in disability health and geriatrics because I have such a strong connection to both my brother and my grandparents.”

Before entering medical school, Urwin completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences, studying health policy, promotion, prevention and inequities affecting Māori.

She said her degree cemented her understanding that health is not just about treatment, but prevention, education and culturally responsive care.

“Learning about kaupapa Māori initiatives and the importance of whānau-centred approaches really strengthened my foundation,” Urwin said.

“It reinforced that health is about community.”

Medical school, she admits, is demanding. With six years of study in total – three pre-clinical and three clinical – the workload can be intense.

“The burnout is definitely there at times,” she said. “There are sacrifices – missing tangi, birthdays, family events. But I keep thinking about the reward at the end.”

Financial pressure was also a reality for many medical students, with student debt often climbing well into six figures.

Urwin said the Ngāi Tamarāwaho Peri Kohu Memorial Scholarship eased that burden significantly.

“Having financial assistance like this makes a huge difference. It allows me to focus on my studies and wellbeing without constantly worrying about fees. I feel privileged and incredibly grateful.”

She hoped to complete her clinical years in Tauranga, with Tauranga Hospital at the top of her list when placements were decided next year.

“I would love to come back,” she said.

“Ultimately, I want to return to my papakāinga [village] and give back to the people and places that have shaped me.”

Urwin said receiving a scholarship named in memory of Peri Kohu carried special meaning.

“Your generosity is not only an investment in my education, but in the future hauora and wellbeing of our people,” she said.

“I carry that support with humility and gratitude and I’m determined to honour it through my studies and, in time, through service to our whānau, hapū and iwi.”

As Ngāi Tamarāwaho continued to encourage more of its uri (descendants) into medicine, Urwin hoped her journey would inspire others to follow.

“Our tamariki [children] and mokopuna [grandchildren] deserve to grow up in a world where they feel their health is prioritised and valued,” she said.

“If I can be part of that change, that will mean everything.”