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Ngā Mahi O Matariki, Te Tau Hou Māori

Matariki is a star cluster that appears in the early morning sky in New Zealand during the mid-winter months. It is known as the Māori New Year.✨The star cluster is one of the brightest clusters in the sky, containing hundreds of member stars.Mātauranga Māori (ancestral knowledge and wisdom) is at the heart of celebrations of the Matariki public holiday and it will be a time for;🔹 Remembrance – Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki🔹 Celebrating the present �...

She’s got her life back – surgery recipient grateful for assistance through the Braemar Community Surgery Programme

When Andrea Jones says the Braemar Charitable Trust gave her her life back, she means it.Andrea been in pain for years, had been on the hospital surgery waiting list for years, and on occasions hospitalised with her pain. That pain was dragging her down, mentally and physically.Andrea, who works as an office manager, had gone from being a very social person to someone who seldom went out – too risky in her condition – and her energy levels plummeted.“I used to think nothing of walking 10 k...

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers in our community

This National Volunteer Week we would like to acknowledge the wonderful contribution volunteers make in our community-thank you for the significant positive impact you are having across some many sectors in our community. In particular, we would like to make a very special shout out and thank all of the fantastic volunteer surgeons and anaesthetists who so willingly provide free quality of life enhancing surgeries to people in our community, as part of the Braemar Community Surgery Progamme.&nbs...

Surgeons receive international recognition for Braemar-funded oncology study

Last year the Braemar Charitable funded research through its Memorandum of Understanding with the Waikato Medical Research Foundation that focused on "Outcomes following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for appendiceal pseudomyxoma and colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis at Te Whatu Ora Waikato and Braemar Hospital. Assessing the outcomes following CRS and HIPEC treatment and factors predictive of perioperative morbidity and long-term survival wi...

Helping Waikato children one mouth at a time

Paediatric dentist Katie Ayers has been working with Braemar Charitable Trust for more than a decade. She works in specialist private practice in Hamilton, and through the Trust she gives her time and expertise to carry out free dental treatments to children in need – children who for whatever reason cannot readily access the public sector and who require urgent treatment.Braemar Charitable Trust is the 100% owner of Braemar Hospital, one of New Zealand’s largest private hospitals. The Trust...

Trustee Alan Goodey facilitates the Pacific Anaesthetic Assistants course in Fiji

Braemar Charitable Trust Medical Trustee and Anaesthetist Alan Goodey, has just completed facilitating the third Pacific Anaesthetic Assistants course in Fiji. Raj Chand, the Head Anaesthetic Technician at Braemar Hospital accompanied and Alan and also assisted with this training. Alan said "The Anaesthetic Technicians in Fiji have no formal training, but a lot of responsibility. Raj is in this photo teaching the Anaesthetic Technicians how to check the Anaesthetic "Machine correctly in Lab...

On a path to addressing health inequities thanks to health scholarship

Saya Karauna is on a mission to improve health outcomes, particularly for Māori. She is studying for a Bachelor of Health at the University of Waikato, majoring in Population Health. Last year Saya successfully applied for a Braemar Charitable Trust Scholarship, awarded to students who are studying either Health or Nursing at the University of Waikato and are planning to stay in the region after graduation.While Saya welcomed the money the scholarship brings, it also allowed her to do a month�...

Surgeon and Trustee works across the sector

Surgeon Jasen Ly spends most of his working days at Waikato Hospital, but he also uses his expertise in the private sector, as a surgeon and as a medical trustee on the Braemar Charitable Trust. Jasen became a trustee in 2022 following a gentle nudge from a former mentor, now colleague.“I didn’t need much persuading because I was already working at Braemar and I admired the work the Trust was doing.  As a trustee it’s not just about deciding what to do with the money – and ther...

Congratulations to Mya Murray recipient of a Braemar Charitable Trust Bachelor of Nursing Scholarship

The Braemar Charitable Trust has great pleasure in announcing the final recipient of a University of Waikato Braemar Charitable Trust Scholarship for 2024. Mya Murray from Tokoroa, is currently in her second year of studying a Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Waikato. Mya described her passion for working in the health sector and in particular for wanting to pursue a career in Nursing, "comes from seeing the repercussions an inequitable healthcare system has on Whānau a...

Introducing Braemar Bachelor of Health Scholarship recipient Nicola Stanton

We are really pleased to announce and congratulate Nicola Stanton as the recipient of the Braemar Charitable Trust Bachelor of Health Scholarship for 2024. Nicola is currently in her second year at Waikato University studying a Bachelor of Health with a Major in Biomedical Sciences. Nicola explained that "embarking on the journey to complete my degree holds significance not only for myself but also for my broader aspirations and the communities I represent". Originally from Taranaki, Nicola was ...

Dozens of Waikato people to receive free surgery thanks to Braemar Charitable Trust

The charitable trust that owns Braemar Hospital is providing free surgeries in November under its long-running Community Surgery Programme. Dozens of adults and children needing minor surgeries will have procedures across one of two Saturdays - 9 and 23 November. For the first time, Braemar Hospital will open theatres on Saturdays specifically for these free community surgeries. Hamilton’s Braemar Hospital is 100% owned by the Charitable Trust which undertakes a range of charitable a...

Congratulations to Brooklyn Alves-Culley recipient of a Braemar Charitable Trust Bachelor of Nursing Scholarship

Brooklyn Heiarii Alves-Culley is one of two recipients of the Braemar Charitable Trust Nursing Scholarships for 2024. Brooklyn is 23 and of Cook Island Maori descent and is currently in her second year of studying Nursing at the University of Waikato. "I was brought up in the cultural practices of the Cook Islands thanks to my grandparents, thus many of their values and beliefs have connected with me and I now identify them as my own. My grandparents have been a big part of my life and the reaso...

ENT surgery waiting times for Waikato children halved thanks to Braemar Charitable Trust

We fund many charitable activities, including free community surgeries, with the aim of improving overall health in the Waikato region. Many surgeons and anaesthetists who are credentialed to work at Braemar Hospital donate their time, free, and the hospital and trust cover other costs for the surgeries.Recent ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeries for children organised by Braemar Charitable Trust have halved the waiting time for those Waikato children. Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora wants a...

Fraser High School Students hosted at Braemar Hospital

The Braemar Charitable Trust supported Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Ruth Tan to establish "Te Rau Oranga Scholarship" fund. The goal of this fund is to provide inspiration, mentorship and to open doors for young Māori to enter a career in health care. Te Rau Oranga awarded $10,000 worth of scholarships to 9 successful students in 2023. In addition to funding, the students have had the opportunity to meet a range of health care professionals whom have inspired the rangatahi with different health caree...

Braemar Charitable Trust a key partner in South Waikato Community Hauora Day

The charity that owns Braemar Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in New Zealand, has provided free surgical procedures for South Waikato people at a local community hauora (health) day. The Braemar Charitable Trust, the 100% owner of Braemar Hospital, undertakes a range of charitable activities, including community surgeries, to help improve health in the Waikato region. Many surgeons and anaesthetists who are credentialled to work at Braemar Hospital donate their time, free. Br...

Braemar Charitable Trust and Waikato Hospital ENT department collaborate for patient care

The Braemar Charitable Trust Community Surgery Programme is our  flagship charitable activity.This programme involves surgeons and anaesthetists donating their time and expertise pro bono to provide surgeries to eligible patients, at Braemar Hospital. The in-hospital costs are funded by Braemar Charitable Trust.With collaboration between Braemar Hospital, Waikato Hospital and Braemar Charitable Trust a system has been developed whereby children currently on Waikato Hospital’s ENT (Ear, No...

Braemar Big Day Out

The week before Christmas saw the entire Braemar Hospital team get together for a day of connecting, learning, team building and development as part of the "Braemar Big Day Out". The team enjoyed a full programme of inspiring speakers and presentations, followed by a challenge activity facilitated by "Team Up Events". The challenge activity saw teams works together to solve problems and complete activities in order to earn the parts needed to build a bike. The Braemar Charitable Trust, the 100%...

Te Kotahi Oranga Health and Wellness Centre Opening

Earlier this year, the Braemar Charitable Trust provided funding to WINTEC to purchase a Cobas B 101 - HbA1c lipid testing device for their new Te Kotahi Oranga/Student Assisted Clinic. We were delighted to be able to join WINTEC and other community partners, as they celebrated the official opening of their ākonga (learner)-assisted health and wellbeing service at the Rotokauri campus recently. Te Kotahi Oranga clinic is a community-led example of how collaboration can benefit both ākonga and ...

2023 Braemar Charitable Trust Science Spinners Scholarship Recipient Announced

Mya Komene from Aiga Tasi/Fraser High school was awarded the Braemar Charitable Trust Health Pathway scholarship award, valued at $1000 at the recent 2023 Kudos Science Excellence awards. This prize is awarded to a Science Spinners student who is on the academic path for a career in Health or Medicine. In addition to the health pathway scholarship, the Braemar Charitable Trust has been a sponsor of the Kudos Science Trust annual Science Spinners programme for the last 3 years. Science Spinners p...

Reflections from Bachelor of Health Scholarship Recipient, Saya Karauna

The $10,000 Braemar Charitable Trust Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Health Scholarships we fund through the University of Waikato also include a 4-week paid placement with Braemar or one of our community partners. Over the last three weeks, we have had the pleasure of welcoming Bachelor of Health Scholarship recipient Saya Karauna to the Braemar team. Here is what Saya said about her time with us:  During my work placement at Braemar I have worked on improving the awareness and i...

Behind the Scenes visit to Braemar Hospital

Last week Braemar Hospital Board Chair Graeme Milne, Braemar Charitable Trust Chair Vicky McLennan and Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker, had the opportunity to get into scrubs and take a tour of the operating theatre suite at Braemar Hospital. Braemar Hospital has 9 operating theatres and the Braemar Charitable Trust is able to book theatre space for our community surgery programme. Thanks so much to Braemar Hospital Chief Executive Fiona Michel and General Manager Clinical Services ...

Braemar Hui with Cure Kids

Last week we privileged to host CEO Frances Benge, Head of Philanthropy, Debby Bell and Head of Research, Helen Teale from Cure Kids here at Braemar Hospital. Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker said "Cure Kids and the Braemar Charitable Trust are strongly aligned in both our approach and the outcomes we are seeking, to improve health outcomes particularly for youth/rangatahi and children/tamariki in our region. We thought there were real opportunities for collaboration, so got all the ...

Congratulations to Braemar Medical Associate Nishith Patel

Braemar Medical Associate and Waikato Hospital based Specialist Cardiothoracic surgeon Nishith Patel, has been awarded the 2023 Foundation100 Fellowship from the Heart Foundation NZ. The Foundation100 Fellowships have been created to fund the next generation of heart health leaders focusing on innovative endeavours. To read more about Nishiths plans on understanding and preventing aortic dissections follow the link below: https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/about-us/news/stories/heart-surgeo...

Aidan O'Donnell appointed as new Medical Trustee

We would like to introduce new Braemar Charitable Trust Medical Trustee Aidan O'Donnell. Aidan joined the Trust at the start of September and replaces retiring Medical Trustee Chris O'Meeghan. Aidan was born near Edinburgh in Scotland and did his medical training there. He moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2010, and for ten years was the lead Obstetric Anaesthetist at Waikato Hospital. He has a special interest in anaesthesia for childbirth, and is also involved in teaching and medical writing. H...

Vicky McLennan Appointed as new Chairperson, Braemar Charitable Trust

The Braemar Charitable Trust is delighted to announce that Vicky McLennan has been appointed as its new Independent Chairperson. Vicky formally took up the position on 1 September and replaces retiring Chair, Victoria Ashplant. Vicky will be known to many of you already, having lived in Hamilton since 2008, when she moved from Christchurch to take on the role of Principal at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. Upon leaving Dio in 2017 after an extensive period in education, Vicky immediately...