Ngati Kahungunu Scholarships Awards Evening

Wednesday, 21 July 2004, 12:01 am
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Scholarships Awards Evening

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. celebrated the inaugural scholarships awards evening at the Heretaunga Park Community and Conference Centre, Hastings on Friday 16 July.

Ngati Kahungunu has been awarding education scholarships for four years. On Friday, more than 30 of the 60 recipients attended with their families. Each scholarship was worth $1,000.

Dr Rangimarie Turuki Rose Pere presented the keynote speech on Te Wheke, a celebration of infinite wisdom. Dr Pere is an inspirational and motivational speaker bringing the gifts of Te Ao Kohatu, the Ancient world, into its modern context. Her speech provided challenges to Ngati Kahungunu to be assertive in their education and development as descendents of a great ancestor.

The kaleidoscope of talent and hunger across the vast array of educational disciplines was an overwhelming surprise for the recipients, for their whanau and for the iwi. It all augurs well for the future of Kahungunu across the wide spectrum of challenges that this iwi faces in education, health, business and cultural development.

Christine Teariki, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. Deputy Chair, said that the iwi is committed to be supporting and honouring educational achievements and the success of the evening will ensure that this will be an annual celebration for Ngati Kahungunu.

Kym Hamilton, Educational Manager for the Iwi, said she was amazed at the calibre of our people succeeding in the education system.

Robert Joseph who is completing his PhD in Law at Waikato University said how important and exasperating education has been, but at the end of the day his qualification will support his whanau, hapu, iwi and the whole community and that it was ‘cool’ to be Kahungunu!

Ngahiwi Tomoana

Chairman

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

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