Kia ora friends. My name is Hannah; I’m currently between fifth and sixth year, doing a BMedSc(Hons) year. In honour of Wellbeing Month, I want to share the story of how and why I decided to jump off the med school hamster wheel for a while, and the lessons I have learnt along the way. […]

Actual I’m actual now. With that, a Time’s magazine lifts out with my face on its cover. It floats up above, and something tells me to look no further. With that, I’m lighter. The drills have left my entrails.   I’m actual now. Past failures drop and perspective feels like universe’s space. I sieve through, […]

Mindful I wrote this poem after almost getting run over on the way back from uni.  It made me realise why mindfulness is so important.   Watch out when you walk    Through the streets of your mind, That your keen inward eye    Might be outwardly blind, If your focus is skewed,    You trip over yourself, […]

To BE or to FEEL beautiful? A stethoscope clad girl took charge and before I knew it the bottom of my t-shirt was held firmly beneath my neck. I faced the wall, my back exposed. My peers took turns, as I had done before, to meticulously examine my breathing.  I stood there silently, fighting the […]

Mental health is, inarguably, a recent societal focal point. I still remember the times when I was told to keep my thoughts and emotions solely to myself. The word confession, therefore, possessed a sense of guilt and shame.   To deal with the challenges of life, I started to express myself through art. At times it […]

Treading Water  Verse I I’ve been thrown in an ocean Scared ill drown in it But they’re so busy trying to keep their boat above the water  To see I don’t know how to swim   I’m drifting in the chaos Barely afloat I would love if someone stopped just for a moment To throw […]

Have you ever rolled your eyes when the topic of ‘mental health’ gets brought up? I know I have. I would immediately picture a delicate millennial complaining about the basic realities of adulting or whining about a breakup, whilst posting cringy inspirational quotes on social media.  Humbled by my own experiences, I now know that […]

Dear NZMSA Members, NZMSA is now in the process of calling for 2019 NZMSA President, Vice President Internal (VPI) and Vice President External (VPE). These roles are elected by the Executive in accordance with the NZMSA Constitution which can be found on our website. Ideal candidates for the President and Vice-President roles will display strong […]

Dear NZMSA Members, In 2013, the NZMSA trialled a new “Officer” structure, whereby skill-specific roles were developed to improve the way NZMSA advocates and organises events on behalf of medical students. Since this new structure has been implemented Officers have produced outstanding work and excellent events for New Zealand medical students. Overall, we found that […]

PRESS RELEASE: NZMSA disappointed by lack of student input into rural health training hubs New Zealand’s Medical Students are disappointed that a health sector meeting held this week on a new rural training proposal failed to engage with the students who are going to use them. “We’re really excited by this proposal and believe it’s […]