UCOL nursing ākonga wins national GirlBoss competition

UCOL are proud to celebrate Bachelor of Nursing ākonga, Keziah Nibu, who has been crowned a winner in this year’s GirlBoss Edge: Healthcare Challenge.

With a mission to close the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, maths, leadership, and entrepreneurship, the challenge saw over 1,000 entries from young women throughout the country.

First-year nursing student at UCOL Whanganui, Keziah secured one of just 10 winning spots with her prototype programme designed to support children living with Type 1 diabetes.

She says the achievement is particularly meaningful because the idea for her project originated from a case study she completed during her studies.

“While learning about the challenges faced by children living with Type 1 diabetes, I discovered many existing diabetes management tools are designed for adults and focus heavily on medical data. There is a need for a more engaging and child-friendly approach to diabetes management, which is what inspired me to create Haurix, a digital solution designed to support tamariki living with Type 1 diabetes.”

“The programme transforms diabetes management into an interactive digital game where real blood glucose readings influence gameplay. Children care for a virtual Guardian that reflects their health status in real time. The platform includes health-based quests, rewards, visual progress tracking, emotional wellbeing tools, and whanau engagement features that encourage family involvement and support.”

A key feature of Haurix is its foundation in Te Whare Tapa Whā, supporting physical, mental, family, and spiritual wellbeing through a holistic and culturally responsive approach, which is an area Keziah says she has loved learning about during her studies.

“The teachings and guidance provided by my nursing lecturers have helped me understand the importance of Te Whare Tapa Whā and how it can be applied to healthcare solutions that meet the diverse needs of New Zealand communities. I can’t thank my lecturers enough for their support during my learning and with this challenge.”

Keziah says the next stage in her crusade to help support children with diabetes is to bring her prototype programme to life.

“Making Haurix into a reality where children throughout the country can more easily understand their condition would be amazing. It would make managing their diabetes a lot easier, for both the children affected and their guardians.”