Thirteen inspiring Māori students from across the country were presented with the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards at a ceremony held at Parliament, Te Whanganui-a-Tara recently.

The scholarships commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of Victoria Cross recipient Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and the members of the 28th (Māori) Battalion, who served in Greece, Crete, North Africa and Italy from 1941 to 1945.

The Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards aim to inspire and support Māori students in achieving their educational aspirations. Since the fund establishment in 1945, over 300 scholarships have been awarded.

2025 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial scholarship recipients#

Congratulations to the following 2025 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial scholarship recipients.

Undergraduate scholarship recipients#

• Elite Reti (Muriwhenua, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi)
• Hine Te Ariki Parata-Walker (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti)
• Jacqueline Te Kani Nankivell (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi).

Masters scholarship recipients#

• Nina Noble (Ngāi Tahu).

Masters of Educational Research scholarship recipients#

• Mereana Dakin (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Porou)
• Rawiri Coleman (Ngāti Porou).

Doctoral scholarship recipients#

• Peata Melbourne (Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata).

Vocational Education and Training scholarship recipients#

• Gabriella Keil (Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāi Tuhoe)
• Kata O’Donnell (Ngāti Maru).

Applications for the next round of tertiary scholarships will open in June this year.

About the Ngarimu scholarships

About the 2025 scholarship recipients

Video competition and inaugural waiata composition competition winners#

The waiata composition competition launched last year is a new addition to the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial scholarships and awards. This competition encourages Māori students in Years 7 to 13 to explore their creativity by expressing their knowledge and personal connections to the 28th (Māori) Battalion through waiata.

The winners of the waiata composition competition were celebrated for the first time at this year’s awards ceremony alongside the 2024 video competition winners.

Applications for both competitions will open in June 2025.

First Ngarimu waiata competition winners#

Congratulations to the first Ngarimu waiata competition winners.

Te Reo Māori stream

Te Kani ā Takirau Porter (Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou)

Kura: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri-a-Maui

Waiata: I te Pō, I te Ata – YouTube

Bilingual stream

Edward Ngatai Braybrook (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Porou) and Puhiraumoa Milner (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Porou)

Kura: Tolaga Bay Area School and Kahukuranui

Waiata: They Fought On – YouTube

2024 Ngarimu video competition winner#

Congratulations to the 2024 Ngarimu video competition winner.

Bilingual stream

Marlow Winder (Te Arawa)

Kura: Rosmini College

Video: The Price of Citizenship – YouTube

About the Ngarimu video and waiata composition competitions

About the winners of the Ngarimu video and waiata composition competitions