Te Oranoa Mitchell is a dedicated advocate for Māori health and data sovereignty. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, she recently transitioned from Medicine to align her personal priorities and professional aspirations. This shift enables her to focus on creating meaningful impact within her hāpori while maintaining flexibility to spend time with whānau.
Her internship experience with Te Kānui Raraunga (TKR) Charitable Trust in Rotorua inspired her ongoing mahi as a Kaimawhitiwhiti Raraunga (Data Advisor/Communicator). In this role, Te Oranoa supports TKR’s mission to advance Māori data sovereignty through tikanga-based solutions. This work exemplifies her commitment to ensuring Māori have rangatiratanga over their data and that databases reflect Māori values and priorities.
Raised in Te Tai Tokerau, Te Oranoa’s connection to her community has shaped her values and career trajectory. As a high school student, she was actively involved in RAID (Respond to All in Distress), a group formed in response to a cluster of youth suicides in Whangārei. Supported by Ngāti Hine Health Trust, RAID encouraged positive behaviors and mental well-being among rangatahi. She was also one of the inaugural mentees in the Hawea Vercoe Leadership Programme, facilitated by the MOKO Foundation, which nurtures leadership skills in rangatahi to build a better Aotearoa.
Her early experience as a contact tracer during the Covid-19 pandemic exposed her to systemic health inequities faced by Māori. She observed that many whānau were navigating poverty, overcrowded housing, and chronic illness, making Covid-19 a secondary concern. This experience deepened her resolve to address these disparities and advocate for meaningful change.
Te Oranoa continues to contribute to Māori health through various networks, including Whakapiki Ake, Te Oranga (Māori Medical Students Association Aotearoa), Blue Light NZ, Te Aka Whai Ora - Medical Workforce Pathway Group, and Hāpai te Hauora Māori Public Health internships. Her commitment to empowering her Far North hāpori and fostering Māori health advancement remains central to her work.
With a clear focus on bridging Māori health inequities and advancing Māori sovereignty in health and data, Te Oranoa is an emerging leader poised to make a lasting impact on Māori well-being. Her dedication, combined with her cultural grounding and professional expertise, ensures her contributions will resonate for generations to come.
Links:
Te Tai Tokerau Māori Rural Health Noho Marae
King's serious subject has Kaitaia College students laughing
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Summer Internship 2020-2021 - another group of aspiring researchers
Updated 4 December 2024
