Your voice at a
national level
History of NZMSA...
The New Zealand Medical Students’ Association (NZMSA), is student run association established in 1972. We have a proud history of representing medical students, and there have been a few highlights along the way. Our vision is to represent, unite, and empower New Zealand medical students on the views, issues and concerns relevant to them. The overall goal of our work is to improve the health of New Zealanders.
NZMSA Meet the team
Executive Directors
Indira Fernando
President
Kia ora! I'm Indira (they/she) and it is my honor to be the NZMSA President this year. I've been with NZMSA for 4 years now and love representing my fellow med students and advocating for changes we need. I've worked in equity, financial support and job security and love hearing from students with concerns or ideas. Please reach out at any time!
Andrew Xiao
VPW
Kia ora whānau, my name is Andrew and I'm your new VP Workforce for 2023. I'm a current TI in Wellington, but I'm actually out in the Hutt for the majority of the year. I'm very excited to represent our students and TIs to make sure that our graduates are in the best position when entering the workforce. Of course, even though my role focuses on our clinical students and TIs, please feel free to reach out if you have any concerns at all even if it's not specific to those issues.
In my spare time I like finding free food (foraging/diving) and eating a range of things of questionable edibility. If you find yourself in Wellington and also want to learn about finding free food, flick me an email and I'll take you along!
Jake Parsons
VPE
Jake Parsons is NZMSA's Vice President Engagement for 2024. A UoA student originally from Ōtautahi, his lengthy journey through university has also included a Bachelor of Science, a stint as an editor and photographer of the med school’s student magazine, ND, and two years leading the Auckland Student Volunteer Army during the volunteer response to Covid and the floods. Now spending his final year of medicine based in the Waikato and chairing the fantastic Engagement Working Group, he hopes to make NZMSA's events as thought-provoking, inclusive, and fun as possible. He is especially interested in making space for challenging conversations and new ideas, particularly in the Medical Leadership Forum and Student Research Forum, and enabling fellow students to be advocates, leaders and changemakers wherever they go.
Executive Officers
Jackie Hazelhurst
Finance Officer
Jackie Hazelhurst (she/her) is a medical student who hails from Whanganui and has a passion for equity-based healthcare and science communication. Jackie finished her 5th year of medical school in 2023 in beautiful Ōtautahi Christchurch, and is now pursuing a BMedSc(Hons) with Professor Suetonia Green as her supervisor. She is also involved with ‘Project Kainga’ (aimed at building climate change resilience in the wider Ōpōtiki region), ‘Just the Facts’ (a platform to teach rangatahi about sexual health that sits under the Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation), and is a territorial soldier in the New Zealand Defence Force! On the weekends you can find Jackie (slowly) running along the Avon or reading a book in any patch of sunshine she can find.
Eushin Kang
Partnerships Officer
Hi everyone!
I'm Eushin, from Hamilton, and based in Wellington for my clinical years. As Partnerships Officer it is my role to find new and build on existing connections for NZMSA, and developing mutually beneficial agreements that will provide greater resources for NZMSA. During my spare time I like to read, watch football, and enjoy the Wellington beaches.
Ann Anson
Secretary
Kia ora! I’m Ann, a fourth year at Middlemore Hospital who’s incredibly excited to be Secretary for NZMSA in 2024! I look forward to contributing to the amazing mahi done by the organisation this year and documenting it all in its minutes. Outside of medicine, I love to create crochet and knitted projects, write calligraphy art and do archery at my local archery range! I hope to help keep NZMSA communicable and accessible amongst its members and the wider community – as such, if you have any administrative or organisational queries, please feel free to reach out!
NZMSA Executive Representatives
Mukish Yelanchezian
Auckland Pre-Clinical Representative
I am Mukish I am undertaking a BMedsci (Hons) year in 2023 before going into my clinical years. A bit about myself I love good yarns, coffee, hikes so if you ever wanna catch up over coffee I am your man. I am quite passionate about medical student wellbeing and am commited to ensuring that we get the best medical school experience. In that vein if you are having any difficulties in medical school feel free to approach me and we can work on it together. I might not be able to solve it but I will certainly try.
Thomas Hartono
Wellington Representative
Kia ora koutou! I’m Thomas (he/him) and I have the pleasure of being the NZMSA representative for medical students in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara. I am currently in 5th year, and I am looking forward to supporting the mahi NZMSA provides for medical students across the motu.
Outside of being a medical student, I’m not one to really stay still… I love playing tennis, exploring the mountainside with skiing and mountain biking, and running. Don’t be a stranger if you see me around and feel free to come say hi!
Looking forward to what 2024 has in store.
Shania Kumar
Auckland Representative
Kia ora, I’m Shania, one of your 2024 Pre-Clinical Reps. I am so excited to advocate for your needs and what matters the most to us.
I would describe myself as a passionate individual who loves to immerse myself in nature and try out different things.
I’m a 3rd year student based in Tāmaki Makaurau and I can’t wait to get to meet you all!! You’ll most likely see me around Grafton campus grabbing a cheeky coffee from Superfino or hanging out at student commons.
Feel free to come over and have a chat about student life, any issues or concerns you have and what you’d like to see more of on a day to day basis.
Student wellbeing and forming an inclusive community is important to me and I look forward to working to achieve this in 2024.
Tim Kent-Royds
Dunedin Representative (ALM)
coming soon...
Cam Hayes
Auckland Clinical Representative
Coming soon...
Nicola-Mary Geraghty
Auckland Representative
Kia ora koutou katoa, it is an absolute honour to be representing tauira from Tāmaki Makaurau on NZMSA! I was born and raised in Ohakune and I am a Trainee Intern in the beautiful Waikato this year. I am very invested in medical student experiences with a particular emphasis on rural medicine advocacy for students and doctors. I believe that rural medicine and Kaupapa Māori go hand-in-hand. I think that iwi interconnectedness in rural communities is not always adequately represented, and I would love for our wānanga to formalise this on placements. I am working in the advocacy space this year and am keen to get started!
Alex Timmings
Christchurch Representative
Kia ora, I’m the the NZMSA rep for Ōtautahi Christchurch this year. I’ve been all over the show - Christchurch, Queenstown and now Nelson but throughout have been on the local student association as an Education rep, so I’m stoked to continue some mahi this year at the NZMSA level! Christchurch students - any pātai or concerns you’d think are important to be heard at a higher level, fire them through to me! Cheers.
Cam Young
Dunedin Representative (ELM)
Kia orana tātou kātoatoa! I am a Hawke's Bay boy with whakapapa to the Cook Islands, Sāmoa and Scotland. It is a privilege to represent the pre-clinical Otago scarfies on a national level and I look forward to engaging with our current medical students across the motu. If you're an aspiring medical student reading this, remember that motivation may die, but discipline will always see you through to your end goal - and believe me, even after four years of undergraduate study, medicine was very much worth coming back to university for. As Tammi once sang, there "ain't no mountain high enough" to keep you from something if it is truly what you love, so keep grinding! Kia manuia and all the best for the year ahead.
Steering Committee
Nick Newman
AUMSA VPA
Tēnā tātou,
I am Nick the Vice President of Administration for AUMSA in 2023 and I’m currently starting my fourth year of Medicine. I have previous experience sitting on the AUMSA council for the last two years as a Class rep for the Class of 2025. A role of which I have sadly given up, in order to devote more time to being VPA.
This year I am excited to work alongside many student passionate representatives in order to guide the direction of NZMSA, and create positive change for our members.
Cheers,
Nick
Helaman Luki
Te Oranga Tumuaki
Tēnā koutou katoa! Tēnei au nō Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Hāmoa, Ngāti Niue hoki. Ko Helaman Luki tōku ingoa. He tumuaki o Te Oranga.
Kia ora everyone, my name is Hela and I'm the president of the Māori Medical Students Association - Te Oranga. In my role I oversee the welfare of Māori medical students, advocate on their behalf, and help coordinate events to encourage the integration of Te Ao Māori in their lives as tauira rata. We have an exciting year ahead of us and I am fortunate to be a part of such a talented and clever team. Mauri ora!
Dakyung Lee
OUMSA ELM President
Kia ora koutou, my name is Dakyung (DK) and I am honoured to be representing the pre-clinical students from Ōtepoti, as the ELM OUMSA president for 2024. I look forward to an exciting year working with the NZMSA team to advocate for wellbeing of medical students around New Zealand.
Kate Dunstall
AUMSA VPE
I’m Kate (she/her) the Vice President Education for AUMSA. I’m a TI based at Middlemore Hospital. I’m also the Rural Representative for the NZMSA Equity Advisory Board. I am excited to represent the voice of UoA students during my time with NZMSA.
In my spare time I enjoy gymming, hiking, reading and am currently dabbling in waka ama. I too enjoy a beverage of sorts so if you would like to koorero over a coffee let me know!
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Isaac Samuels
AUMSA Māngai Māori
Teenaa koutou e te iwi! Ko Isaac Samuels tooku ingoa. He uri ahau no Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Hauaa me Ngaati Tuuwharetoa hoki. I am a TI at Middlemore Hospital and am privileged to be the AUMSA Maangai Maaori representative for 2023 and aim to do my best to portray the collective voice of Tauira Maaori within UoA’s medical program. I am excited to see how we, as a collective, can work towards the betterment of student wellbeing by bringing our collective knowledge and skillsets into the NZMSA team. If you’re a Maaori medical student from Taamaki and ever need anything at all, feel free to get in touch, my inbox is always open. Mauri ora!
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Monica Thompson-Tahau
Te Oranga Tumuaki Tuarua
Tēnā tātou, I’m Monica and I am the Tumuaki Tuarua of Te Oranga for 2023. Te Oranga is our national Māori Medical Students’ Association and we provide academic, pastoral and cultural support to tauira Māori. As a part of this we work closely with NZMSA and I will sit on the Steering committee.
I’m definitely a water baby, so any free time I have you will catch me at the beach, river or pool. I am a TI ki Heretaunga this year, and am looking forward to all the exciting new experiences which are coming our way.
Denver Ruwhiu
Te Oranga Kaituhi
Tēnā tātou. I’m Denver and I represent Te Oranga on 2023’s new Steering Committee.
In my free time you’ll find me at the gym, eating korean food or binge-watching shows.
This year I’m excited to meet new people, try new food and take up new roles, so my motto for this year is “less hui, more do-ey”. If you need to be in contact, feel free to send an me an email
Ex-Officio Officers
Our Partners
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Te Oranga
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Otago University Medical Students Association
Auckland University Medical Students Association
Christchurch Medical Students Association
