New nurse Kayla Hemara-Wahanui believes having Māori work in a Māori organisation is a given.
The WITT graduate is one of 42 nurses who walked straight into employment after completing the three-year bachelor’s degree at the end of last year.
The 100 per cent employment rate sees recent WITT nursing graduates in jobs across an array of sectors in the industry from medical, surgical, emergency, primary health care, mental health, elderly and intensive care and public health.
Now working for iwi Ngati Ruanui in Hāwera, Kayla said having a Māori voice within the organisation has meant people are able to thrive.