21 Dec Growing the Puna Interns 2022/23

This summer we welcome our two Growing the Puna Interns, Jewell and Paris. Growing the Puna has been a successful internship for nine years running. We welcome both Paris King and Jewell Carlson to our Toi Tangata whānau and wish them all the best during their time here at Toi Tangata.

Jewell aka Heitiki

Kia ora, my name is Jewell but my whanau call me Heitiki (after my nan). I grew up in Murupara and moved to Hawkes Bay with my mum when I was 4 years old. Sport was a huge part of my life, as mum played premium netball every week and my dad was a black belt who started me on the punching bags as soon as we got to Hawkes Bay. My long-term goal is to work my way up into a position where I can make a difference in the community and influence people’s lives through health and exercise. I plan to keep an open mind during this internship as I do not know what to expect, but I hope to soak up as much knowledge and wisdom as I can through this experience.

Paris King

E rere kau mai te Āwanui, mai i te Kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa. Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.

Kia ora, my name is Paris Lauryn Jade King. I am 22 years old and am currently living in central Tauranga.

I have had quite the journey leading up to this internship opportunity. I was born in Tauranga and whakapapa to Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi. My whanau and I have moved all around the north island during my life, but this year we have returned to the beautiful Bay of Plenty. I am studying at Otago University towards my Bachelor of Anatomy, working towards entering the health workforce as a doctor. My interests are in photography, art, health and science – but more than anything, being in the water brings me the most joy in life –  and I have just started learning to surf. 

This internship brings me immense excitement as I seek to embark on a journey to create innovative ways of integrating mātauranga and whakapapa approaches into modelling health, as well as working alongside an incredible cohort of interns and professionals who work within the health sector. I hope to use the knowledge gained from this unique opportunity to make a difference in reducing the disparities in health between non-Māori and Māori, still prevalent today.