Our People: Jermayne Maika
Whakanuia tēnei uri nō te whānau Maika-Te Rangipuawhe, nō Ngāti Wahiao & Te Pakira. We got to catch up with Jermayne at the ahurei earlier in June to hear about what he’s been up to. Pānui mai…
Jermayne is currently a 2nd year House Officer, based at Dunedin Hospital in Ōtepoti and graduated as a Doctor, with a Bachelors of Medicine at the end of 2021. Jermayne has been in Ōtepoti since 2015, after he finished school the year before, and not with the original intention of studying medicine or becoming a doctor either. Instead, with aspirations to play professional sport and pursue other career pathways - Jermayne arrived in Ōtepoti without having the qualifications required to get into Medicine or the 1st year Health Science programme.
Mea rawa ake, he completed a bridging course to get university entrance, which flowed into completing the foundation course to get into the 1st year Health Sciences programme at Otago University.
“I couldn’t see myself wanting to do anything else”
The past 9 years on this pathway to becoming a doctor has meant a lot of sacrifices; from study time to being engulfed in mahi and providing a high standard of care for patients - so the mahi/non-mahi balance has been key. Jermayne has figured out a couple of different ways to keep balance though; with playing rugby, horse riding, and the occasional hunt and dive with uncles, his little brother and the bros.
Coming back home to Rotorua when he can is also part of keeping things in balance, so being able to come back for Te Ahurei o Tūhourangi was extra special. Performing with the whānau, chill-ngahau vibes, and knowing everyone out there can connect to what we were signing about - kāre he kupu.
Looking forward into the future, Jermayne wants to complete his initial training as a doctor and add some work experience to his kete which might take him overseas for a little bit. He’s also hinted that he wants to return to Rotorua with his mahi, and that you might even catch him at the noho and wānanga on the road to Matatini in upcoming campaigns…
Nei ngā mihi nui ki a koe Jermayne i tō para i tēnei huarahi i te ao Rata, rongoā me te whakarauora i te iwi. Nei tō iwi e whakanui ana, e tautoko ana i a koe!
He kōrero akiaki, some words of encouragement to whānau interested in studying at Otago:
There’s good support for Māori medical students, and a good crew of whānau/hapori Māori in Ōtepoti
The Dean of Otago Medical School is a wahine Māori, ko Dr. Jo Baxter nō Poutini Ngāi Tahu me Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
Expect there to be a bit of culture shock and difference to what you’re used to in the North Island
Ōtepoti as a city is oriented around students - ko ngā rangatahi ngā rangatira ia te rā, ia te rā!
Bonus and probably most importantly…. the hunting and diving is second to none, I’ll show you the spots lol - from Jermayne himself, e te iwi!