Te Rato Leach is an emerging leader in Māori health, dedicated to serving his community and empowering Māori youth through education and mentorship. Currently in his final year (Trainee Intern) of a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Otago, Te Rato demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and leadership.

A proud graduate of Hamilton Boys' High School, Te Rato received Academic Honours in 2019, excelling particularly in the sciences. His dedication extends beyond academics, serving as a mentor and academic tutor, focusing particularly on supporting Māori and refugee students.

Te Rato has whakapapa to Turanganui-a-Kiwa, including local iwi Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, and Te Whānau a Kai. The desire to improve Māori health outcomes within the Tairāwhiti region in particular has been a key driving factor for Te Rato’s pathway through medical training and his return to Tairāwhiti for his final year of his medical training. 

Te Rato has assumed significant leadership roles, notably as Tumuaki of Te Roopu Whakahaere o Te Oranga. In this capacity, Te Rato acts as the national representative for Māori medical students, championing Māori representation in healthcare workforce, and facilitating support and events for Māori medical students across Aotearoa.

Te Rato sits on the board of Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa (Te ORA), The Māori Medical Practitioners Association, as the māngai tauira (student representative), He also serves on the Steering Committee of the New Zealand Medical Students' Association (NZMSA), that sets the direction for NZMSA’s advocacy work, vision, goals and culture. Te Rato describes himself in his NZMSA profile as

“My name is Te Rato and I whakapapa to Tairāwhiti, where I am also a final year medical student based out of Gisborne hospital. While Tairāwhiti will always be my whānau's home, I grew up in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, and have spent my 5 years at university in Dunedin and Pōneke. This year I serve as Tumuaki for Te Oranga, established in 1998 to support tauira tākuta Māori around the motu, through our guiding objectives of whakatairanga (uplift and advocate), whakapiri (enhance connection), and whakatipu (encourage growth).”

Te Rato’s leadership and service were acknowledged through the University of Otago's 2023 Iti Rearea Award, which recognizes his significant contributions to the Māori student community.

Te Rato continues to advocate for Māori health equity and Māori health workforce representation, establishing himself as a promising leader dedicated to positive change in hauora Māori.