Outstanding young Māori receive scholarships

Education Minister Hekia Parata today presented five Māori students with a prestigious tertiary scholarship in honour of the 28th (Māori) Battalion.

The students who were presented with the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship in a ceremony at Parliament are:

• Tahlia Kingi (Te Awara, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti)

• Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu (Ngāpuhi, Taranaki, Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui)

• Hine Kawana (Rangitane, Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngā Waiariki, Te Ati-hau-nui-a-Papārangi)

• Coralie Takuira Dargaville (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa)

• James Enright (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui).

The winners were chosen from 86 applicants in the 2014/15 round and are made up of aspiring psychologists, doctors and an environmental scientist at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels.

Ms Parata says they all exemplify the traits that earned the Battalion an honoured place in our nation’s history.

“This year marks 100 years since the Anzac landings at Gallipoli. Last week we paid tribute to the men and women who fought at Gallipoli and honoured those who gave their lives serving our country in past and recent times.

“Since 1948, the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board has supported young Māori to succeed in education. These five students not only demonstrate education excellence, but also the same commitment, service and leadership displayed by the Battalion.

“They honour the spirit and sacrifice of the soldiers and are most deserving of the scholarship. What is particularly exciting is that they all have innovativeplans to make a difference for Māori,” says Ms Parata.

Applications for the next round of the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship opens on 1 July 2015 and close in September.

Information about the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and applications for the 2015/16 round can be found here.

Winners of the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Scholarship:

• Tahlia Kingi has been awarded the doctoral scholarship worth $25,000 a year for up to two years. Tahlia is researching self-injury among young Māori and the support role of whānau and community. She will complete her qualification in 2016.

• Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu has been awarded the masters scholarship worth $15,000 per year for up to two years. His research focuses on sustainable management of native pāua stocks. Te Rerekohu has a bachelor’s degree in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).

• Three students have been awarded the undergraduate scholarship worth $10,000 per year for up to five years. They are Hine Kawanawho starts her Bachelor of Arts this year; Coralie Takuira Dargavilleand James Enright who are both studying towards a Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

Biographies on the winners can be found here.

ENDS

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