Unitec acting student’s hair to make a difference

Losing her hair was more than just supporting a cause, it was about standing in solidarity, honouring loved ones, and sparking conversations that matter.

“I’ve done Shave for a Cure before – the first time was in 2022 when I was in Year 10. My school ran it each year to raise money for people going through cancer treatment, and also to support research into finding a cure,” she explains.

That first shave came at a deeply emotional time for Brooke. Her high school principal (someone she describes as “like a second mum”) passed away from cancer just as the campaign kicked off.

Not long before that, her own mother had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. “Mum was diagnosed when I was about eleven. Thankfully, she’s cancer-free now after going in for a screening last year. But it was a really rough time for our whole family.”

These experiences left a lasting impact, inspiring Ms Wilson to take part in the cause again and this time with even more purpose.

“It’s about raising money, but also awareness,” she adds. “Cancer affects so many with one in three people I’ve heard and yet we still don’t talk about it enough. It’s still treated like a taboo topic. But ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. Talking about it does.”

Brooke Wilson prior to shaving her head (a second time!) for Shave for a Cure.

Brooke’s goal this year is to raise $1,000, and she’s already well on her way encouraging others to support the cause by donating via the official Shave for a Cure website www.shaveforacure.co.nz then search under Brooke Wilson. 

And for anyone thinking about signing up next year? “Do it – if you’re worried about your hair don’t be, it grows back,” she says. “Mine is longer now than it was before I shaved it the first time. The shave is symbolic and you’re standing in solidarity with those going through treatment, many of whom don’t get a choice about losing their hair.”

Hailing from Fielding, Ms Wilson’s journey to Unitec came through a serendipitous moment while attending the National Youth Drama School in Havelock North in 2024. There, she met Unitec acting lecturer, Will Wallace, who tutored there.

Mr Wallace spoke passionately about the programme and that was enough to spark Brooke’s curiosity. “I hadn’t heard of Unitec before,” she explains. “But after hearing about it, I went home, did my research, and thought, ‘This sounds cool. I’ll apply,” she recalls.  That led to an audition for Unitec’s Bachelor of Performing Arts – Acting programme and a place in this year’s first-year cohort.

Now halfway through her first year, Ms Wilson is settling into student life, living at the Waterview Student Village and finding a sense of belonging on campus through engaging with te ao Māori (Māori worldview). “Growing up in Feilding, it was very ‘she’ll be right’ and rugby-focused. We had te reo Māori classes at school, but I never really took the chance to dive deeper. Even in primary school, it was just little bits and pieces,” Brooke says. “That’s why it’s been so refreshing to now have that focus.”

Every Tuesday morning, her acting cohort gathers at Te Noho Kotahitanga marae for classes in kapa haka, waiata, and soft taiaha, alongside other kaupapa Māori content. “Honestly, having a marae on campus is amazing. It feels like such a privilege to be in that environment—learning about culture, your own or others’. Not every place offers that kind of opportunity.”

For Ms Wilson, acting isn’t just a craft, it’s a vehicle for empathy, for expression, and for change.

Whether she’s on stage, in the classroom, connecting with culture, or getting her head shaved in support of others, one thing is clear: Brooke is here to make a difference.

Find out more about donating to Shave for a Cure by visiting shaveforacure.co.nz

Want to know more our acting programme at Unitec?

Come to Unitec’s Open Day at our Mt Albert campus on Saturday, 6 September 2025. More information here https://www.unitec.ac.nz/about-us/open-day