Six Northland students have been named as recipients of Northland Regional Council’s annual Tū i te ora Scholarship, each receiving $4000 and paid work experience with council this summer.

The recipients are Aakash Chatterji, Nehana Griffiths, Riana Lane, Isaac Morrow, Raine Ross, and William Trubshaw, who were selected from a pool of 26 applicants.

This is the sixth year council has awarded the scholarship, which recognises, encourages and supports student to undertake study that relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions, whilst contributing to council’s vision ‘Tiakina te taiao, tuia te here tangata - Nurture the environment, bring together the people’.

Pou Manawhakahaere - Group Manager, Governance and Engagement Auriole Ruka says the scholarship provides value for both the recipients and council, with the recipients able to gain hands-on experience and council benefiting from the extra support during the busy summer period.

"It’s a great opportunity for the recipients to apply what they’ve learned through their tertiary study to real life scenarios, and our teams really value the different experiences and perspectives the recipients bring."

Nehana Griffiths, who will join council’s Climate Action and Natural Hazards team, is passionate about learning how land has been utilised and the impacts of this over time.

"I enjoy looking at environmental management cases and learning how different communities in different contexts and situations tackle environmental problems, and what we can learn from those results for the future."

Riana Lane will join council’s Biosecurity Partnerships team to help support community projects aimed at managing plant and animal species. She is determined to help protect the environment for future generations to enjoy and treasure.

"I want to apply my love for our flora and fauna in a career in conservation, breeding programmes, and zoology to work with and study our native species, and to support them to survive and thrive in our changing world."

Ruka says the scholarship also enables council to tap into talent early and create a valuable pipeline for future employees.

"The scholarship offers students an incredible chance to gain valuable experience and discover if a career at council aligns with their career goals. We’ve had several previous recipients return to council after graduating or remained in casual and fixed-term roles."

"We’re really looking forward to having this year’s recipients join us this summer and hope they enjoy the experience so much that they also return to council once they’ve completed their studies to enrich the region and its people with their knowledge and skills."

The six winners (in alphabetical order by surname) are:

• Aakash Chatterji, from Whangārei (Te Uriroroi, Te Parawhau, Te Mahurehure ki Whatitiri, Te Taoū. Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi, and Varanasi India). Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 6) at NorthTec.
• Nehana Griffiths, from Whangārei and Dunedin (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Rehua, Te Rarawa, Te Waiariki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāpuhi). Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and minoring in Geography and Māori Studies at University Otago.
• Riana Lane, from Whangārei. Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biological Science and minoring in Psychology at University of Canterbury.
• Isaac Morrow, from Kerikeri (Te Aupōuri). Bachelor of Marine Science at University of Otago.
• Raine Ross, from Mōtatau (Ngāti Te Tarawa, Ngāti Hine). Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) at Massey University.
• William Trubshaw, from Whangārei. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science conjoint, majoring in Biological Sciences and Geography, and minoring in Mathematics at University of Canterbury.

Ruka says the recipients will join NRC from mid-November 2025 to mid-February 2026 in the Biosecurity Partnerships, Climate Action and Natural Hazards, Hydrology, Te Tiriti Partnerships and Engagement Team, and Water Quality teams.

More information about the scholarship and recipients is available from https://www.nrc.govt.nz/scholarship

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