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NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Autymn Williams graduates as nurse, inspired by death of partner Jeremiah Glassie
'When I first started the nursing degree, I was determined to head to oncology, having first hand experience with Jeremiah's cancer in the final years of his life,' Williams told the Herald. 'But working now in children's community care is amazing and I love it. I know this is where I'm meant to be.' Studying through her grief Williams credits her faith for giving her the strength and motivation she needed to live her life alongside grief. Head of Nursing at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), associate professor Deborah Rowe (Ngāi Tahu) praised Williams for completing her degree following Glassie's death. 'Autymn was one of our top Bachelor of Nursing – Māori students. She was absolutely passionate about her studies, motivated, resilient and tackled every challenge that came her way," Rowe told the Herald. 'Autymn received a number of awards throughout her training,' she said. One award was for top student of the semester, and another award from Te Whatu Ora recognised her role as a health ambassador for the Counties-Manukau region. She also won the Pro Care Māori nursing award for 2024. Williams, 23, travels to schools to deliver immunisation programmes, treats students suffering from ailments like skin infections, provides treatment for Rheumatic Fever, and works alongside Well Child and some acute in-home nursing. 'It gives me so much job satisfaction,' Williams said. Young romance, alongside cancer Williams met Glassie in 2018 through a cousin who played in the same Cook Island band as Glassie, a drummer. She was 18 and in Year 12 at Tamaki College, while Glassie, two years older, was working for DHL at Auckland Airport. The two hit it off, but later that year Glassie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 'He was 20 and I was 18 and still at high school,' Williams said. 'He was diagnosed in 2019 when I was Year 13.' Williams said Glassie was so positive about life, 'but it always made me cry thinking about his cancer. I was so in denial about him living and me having a future with Jeremiah Autymn Williams 'He was upbeat and positive ... I was so in denial about him living and me having a future with Jeremiah,' Williams said. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Marriage was not discussed or on the cards, she said. 'We were just focused on healing,' Williams said. After completing Year 13, Williams took a break to support Glassie through his cancer. She would go to his hospital chemo treatments and help out at home, she said. Discovering the magic of nursing Glassie spent 12 months in hospital and that exposed Williams to the unselfish role nurses play in the health system. 'I enrolled for the course while Jeremiah was alive and when he passed later that year, I knew I just had to go for it,' Williams said. Glassie died on December 17, 2020. 'Jeremiah was just the most positive person,' Williams said. 'He never complained. I am glad I took the two years out to be with him. 'I know he would be very proud that I have completed my degree and that I am getting on with life.' Williams said her parents' love and her twin sister's support got her through when Glassie died. 'I wasn't there when Jeremiah became unresponsive at his home and I cried and cried on my dad's shoulder. Jeremiah passed the next day and my family and faith helped me get through.' An indigenous approach to nursing Williams initially signed up for a mainstream nursing degree, then changed her mind and opted for the tikanga Māori course instead. 'I wanted to learn nursing from a Māori perspective,' Williams said. 'It was a very intimate course and the support from tutors and classmates was amazing. 'Mainstream [nurses] learn the philosophies of Florence Nightingale whereas the tikanga Māori [students] study Princess Te Puea. 'I shared my story with my classmates early in the course so everyone knew my circumstances. The tutors really push your 'why' and Jeremiah was my why.' MIT launched the Māori nurses qualification in 2020 - the year Williams applied - in order to attract more Māori to health careers. Te Tohu Paetahi Tikanga Rangatira aa-Tapuhi, Bachelor of Nursing Māori (TTPTRT) prepares nurses to deliver healthcare as registered nurses with a particular focus on indigenous tikanga, reo and kaupapa. Nurses who complete TTPTRT are employed in frontline nursing, research, administration, education, public health and mental health in hospitals and communities. 'The qualification is designed for those who are starting out on a journey in reo and self-identity, as well as others fluent in te reo and well-versed in tikanga,' Rowe said. Waikato waiata 'Timatangia Te Puea' provides the philosophy underpinning the programme. While every nursing degree carries the same clinical components, TTPTRT has an increased focus on tikanga practices. Rowe said this was an acknowledgement of Princess Te Puea Heerangi's commitment to advancing the health outcomes of the Waikato people, the delivery of care in a Māori environment and the ongoing importance of continuing her work. She said Williams' journey has been an inspiration for others. 'It's not surprising to hear of her 'why' in choosing to go into nursing. A number of tauira (students), whether Māori or non-Māori, we have, are inspired to give back to the community either because of the experiences they have had with whānau or extended whānau. 'In understanding tikanga, they can approach a patient in a different way. They can use those cultural competencies and values to engage a patient in their care. We saw during COVID the part different approaches played when Māori and Pasifika interacted with their own people to build trust.' Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Student's Rallying Call For Unity: ‘I'm Tired Of Discrimination'
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter The teenage winner of the Race Unity Speech Awards has used her platform to lay down a challenge to those in power. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Jordyn Joy Pillay, a Year 12 student at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland, won the title of national champion and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision. The finals were hosted by Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus. Pillay was chosen as the winner over the weekend after competing with six female finalists. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoa's true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. 'I am so sick and tired of the same discrimination that forced me, a new migrant just two years ago, to spend my lunchtime in the school toilet just to avoid the hateful comments.' Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Clare Akhmad served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through a morning of bold, solutions-driven speeches by rangatahi. Akhmad said the rangatahi had not simply delivered performances, but presented a roadmap for decision-makers. 'And what I saw was that the messages of the rangatahi, they really were resonating and so now I really hope that they are taken forward in real action,' she said. 'Too often our mokopuna don't have a say in the decisions that affect their daily lives,' she added. 'Local councils, schools and government agencies need to be creating pathways for youth to participate, even before they are eligible to vote.' She said platforms like the Race Unity Speech Awards help build that bridge. But the responsibility now sits with those in positions of power. Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell, Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Darby, NZ Police Deputy Chief Executive Jill Rogers and Police Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo were among those present. Dr Darby said race unity helped to strengthen democracy. 'The broader the voices, the more diverse, and I guess the more opportunities we give and ensure that people have to have their voices heard, the better it is for all of us.' Her comments echoed Pillay's message, that it was time to stop treating inclusion as a campaign and start treating it as everyday governance. Jessica Tupai, last year's Race Unity champion and now Youth MP for Wellington Central, said the competition helped her build the confidence to engage with government. However, many of her peers are still being left out. 'It's not that we don't care about politics. It's often that no one explains it in a way we can understand or access,' she said. 'Go to the schools. Talk with us, not at us.' She said Pacific and Māori youth are often burdened with leadership responsibilities within their own communities but are still overlooked in formal civic spaces. 'We are orators. We are storytellers. Sharing our voice is how we give back.' Minister Mark Mitchell also acknowledged the critiques and said the government was listening. 'Words are easy, but actions matter,' Mitchell said. He acknowledged the powerful ideas shared by finalists, including pitches for virtual reality education and more culturally inclusive teaching, and said they deserved serious consideration. Pillay ended her speech with a call for unity, not just in principle but in practice. 'I am the ocean. I am us. We are the ocean. Together we mean much. For my strength is not that of an individual, but rather that of the collective.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Student's Rallying Call For Unity: ‘I'm Tired Of Discrimination'
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoas true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. The teenage winner of the Race Unity Speech Awards has used her platform to lay down a challenge to those in power. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Jordyn Joy Pillay, a Year 12 student at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland, won the title of national champion and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision. The finals were hosted by Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus. Pillay was chosen as the winner over the weekend after competing with six female finalists. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoa's true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. 'I am so sick and tired of the same discrimination that forced me, a new migrant just two years ago, to spend my lunchtime in the school toilet just to avoid the hateful comments.' Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Clare Akhmad served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through a morning of bold, solutions-driven speeches by rangatahi. Akhmad said the rangatahi had not simply delivered performances, but presented a roadmap for decision-makers. 'And what I saw was that the messages of the rangatahi, they really were resonating and so now I really hope that they are taken forward in real action,' she said. 'Too often our mokopuna don't have a say in the decisions that affect their daily lives,' she added. 'Local councils, schools and government agencies need to be creating pathways for youth to participate, even before they are eligible to vote.' She said platforms like the Race Unity Speech Awards help build that bridge. But the responsibility now sits with those in positions of power. Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell, Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Darby, NZ Police Deputy Chief Executive Jill Rogers and Police Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo were among those present. Dr Darby said race unity helped to strengthen democracy. 'The broader the voices, the more diverse, and I guess the more opportunities we give and ensure that people have to have their voices heard, the better it is for all of us.' Her comments echoed Pillay's message, that it was time to stop treating inclusion as a campaign and start treating it as everyday governance. Jessica Tupai, last year's Race Unity champion and now Youth MP for Wellington Central, said the competition helped her build the confidence to engage with government. However, many of her peers are still being left out. 'It's not that we don't care about politics. It's often that no one explains it in a way we can understand or access,' she said. 'Go to the schools. Talk with us, not at us.' She said Pacific and Māori youth are often burdened with leadership responsibilities within their own communities but are still overlooked in formal civic spaces. 'We are orators. We are storytellers. Sharing our voice is how we give back.' Minister Mark Mitchell also acknowledged the critiques and said the government was listening. 'Words are easy, but actions matter,' Mitchell said. He acknowledged the powerful ideas shared by finalists, including pitches for virtual reality education and more culturally inclusive teaching, and said they deserved serious consideration. Pillay ended her speech with a call for unity, not just in principle but in practice. 'I am the ocean. I am us. We are the ocean. Together we mean much. For my strength is not that of an individual, but rather that of the collective.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Student's Rallying Call For Unity: ‘I'm Tired Of Discrimination'
The teenage winner of the Race Unity Speech Awards has used her platform to lay down a challenge to those in power. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Jordyn Joy Pillay, a Year 12 student at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland, won the title of national champion and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision. The finals were hosted by Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus. Pillay was chosen as the winner over the weekend after competing with six female finalists. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoa's true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. 'I am so sick and tired of the same discrimination that forced me, a new migrant just two years ago, to spend my lunchtime in the school toilet just to avoid the hateful comments.' Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Clare Akhmad served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through a morning of bold, solutions-driven speeches by rangatahi. Akhmad said the rangatahi had not simply delivered performances, but presented a roadmap for decision-makers. 'And what I saw was that the messages of the rangatahi, they really were resonating and so now I really hope that they are taken forward in real action,' she said. 'Too often our mokopuna don't have a say in the decisions that affect their daily lives,' she added. 'Local councils, schools and government agencies need to be creating pathways for youth to participate, even before they are eligible to vote.' She said platforms like the Race Unity Speech Awards help build that bridge. But the responsibility now sits with those in positions of power. Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell, Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Darby, NZ Police Deputy Chief Executive Jill Rogers and Police Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo were among those present. Dr Darby said race unity helped to strengthen democracy. "The broader the voices, the more diverse, and I guess the more opportunities we give and ensure that people have to have their voices heard, the better it is for all of us." Her comments echoed Pillay's message, that it was time to stop treating inclusion as a campaign and start treating it as everyday governance. Jessica Tupai, last year's Race Unity champion and now Youth MP for Wellington Central, said the competition helped her build the confidence to engage with government. However, many of her peers are still being left out. 'It's not that we don't care about politics. It's often that no one explains it in a way we can understand or access,' she said. 'Go to the schools. Talk with us, not at us.' She said Pacific and Māori youth are often burdened with leadership responsibilities within their own communities but are still overlooked in formal civic spaces. 'We are orators. We are storytellers. Sharing our voice is how we give back.' Minister Mark Mitchell also acknowledged the critiques and said the government was listening. 'Words are easy, but actions matter,' Mitchell said. He acknowledged the powerful ideas shared by finalists, including pitches for virtual reality education and more culturally inclusive teaching, and said they deserved serious consideration. Pillay ended her speech with a call for unity, not just in principle but in practice. 'I am the ocean. I am us. We are the ocean. Together we mean much. For my strength is not that of an individual, but rather that of the collective.'
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Students Unite As One – Speaking Up For Unity In Aotearoa – Race Unity Speech Awards And Hui 2025
Press Release – Race Unity Speech Awards A future where racism has been eliminated, division is challenged and unity embraced is the strong message weaving through all the speeches to be presented at the Race Unity Speech Awards on May 3-4 in Auckland. Rangatahi from more than fifteen different backgrounds and ethnicities will be representing fourteen regions from around the motu. 'Preparing for the Race Unity Speech Awards has taught me that my voice has power. I've learnt to channel personal experiences into advocacy and discovered confidence in sharing my identity and values. This process has deepened my understanding of unity, representation, and the need for inclusive spaces. It's been empowering and meaningful, especially being part of a community that uplifts diverse voices.' – Aiza Mustasam, Tauranga Girls' College (2025 Regional Champion) Twenty one regional representatives ranging from Years 11 to 13 (ages around 15-18) will come together for the Speech Awards semi-finals, final and a hui at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Manukau Institute of Technology, Ōtara Campus. Mana Mokopuna Te Kaikōmihana Matua, Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad will be the MC for the final. 'We are looking forward to supporting mokopuna at the semi-fnals and final in early May, as the finalists share their whakaaro about how we can become more just and unified as a society.' When: Saturday, 3 May 2025 › 10am – Powhiri › 11am – National Semi-Finals & Hui Sunday, 4 May 2025 – National Final & Awards Ceremony › 10am – Mihi whakatu › 10:30am – Whaikōrero – National Final › 11:55am – Minister Mitchell thanks speakers › 1:00pm – Presentation of Awards Content Sourced from Original url
