Scholarship duration: 3 years

Te reo Māori

Kei te whai a Hine Te Ariki i te Tohu Paetahi Rongoā me te Tohu Paetahi Hāpara Tinana ki Waipapa Taumata Rau. Kei te mahi hoki ia hei Tauira Rongoā i te Hōhipera o Middlemore, i Tāmaki Makaurau.

He tauira o mua ia o Tolaga Bay Area School me Kahukuranui, otirā he hōnore nui tēnei mō Hine Te Ariki, hei āwhina i a ia i āna whakangungu haumanu ki tāwāhi.

Ki ōna whakaaro, he hononga whaitake tō tēnei karahipi ki te rongotoa tuku iho o te Ope 28, he tohu whakanui hoki i te māia o ngā wāhine me ngā tamariki ki te kawe i taua rongotoa rā ki tēnei rā, he wā anō i noho puku, i pā hoki te mamae.

“Ka noho tēnei karahipi hei whakamaharatanga i a tātou ki ngā painga e whiwhi nei tātou i tēnei rā, nā runga i tō rātou manawanui me te whakahere nui. Ka pīkau ahau i tēnei haepapa i runga i te whakaute whakawhetai nui.”

“Ko te whakareretanga o te Ope 28 (Māori) ka toro ki tua o ngā pae pakanga, otirā ka whakaatatia i roto i ngā tautika-kore ā-pūnahanaha kei mua i a tātou i tēnei rā, inakoa rā te tohe mauroa mō te tautika ā-hauora.”

Nā tana whakatipuranga mai i Ūawa, he hapori tuatai, i kite ā-kanohi a Hine Te Ariki i ngā tauārai ki te hauora, i noho hauora kore ai te tokomaha o ngā whānau. Nā te matea whitawhita mō ngā tākuta tuawhenua, ina koa rā I te wā o te KŌWHEORI-19, i hihiri i a ia ki te whai i te ara o te GP tuawhenua.

“He huarahi tauroa, he huarahi uaua engari he huarahi momoho te rongoā.” Ko taku āinga, ko te wawata kia whai āheinga ngā hapori tuawhenua Māori ki te hauora ikeike o te ao, ā, kia ora rawa te Māori hei mātanga hauora ā-ao.”

English

Hine Te Ariki is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. She is also working as a Medical Student at Middlemore Hospital in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland.

A former student of Tolaga Bay Area School and Kahukuranui, Hine Te Ariki considers receiving a Ngarimu scholarship a great honour which will help support her overseas clinical placements and training.

She views this scholarship as a meaningful connection to the profound legacy of the 28th (Māori) Battalion and a tribute to the resilience of the women and children who carried that legacy forward, often in silence and pain.

“The legacy of the 28th (Māori) Battalion extends beyond battlefields and is reflected in the systemic inequities we face today, particularly in the ongoing struggle for health equity.”

“This scholarship serves as a reminder that the privileges we enjoy today were earned through their courage and sacrifice. I carry this responsibility with deep respect and gratitude.”

Growing up in Ūawa | Tolaga Bay, a rural coastal community, Hine Te Ariki witnessed firsthand the barriers to healthcare that left many whānau without adequate care. The urgent need for rural doctors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired her to pursue a career as a rural GP.

“Medicine is a lifelong, challenging yet fulfilling journey. I am driven by a vision for rural Māori communities to have access to world-class healthcare and for Māori to thrive as world-class healthcare professionals.”

Scholarship duration: 3 years

Te reo Māori

Kei te whai a Jacqueline i ana Tohu Paetahi i te Ture me ngā Toi, he aronga nui ki ngā Akoranga Taketake, ā, he aronga iti ki te Whakapono i Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou i Ōtepoti. He tauira o mua ia o Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whatatutu, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri-a-Māui me Te Kāreti o Campion i Tūranganui-a-Kiwa.

Hei tā Jacqueline, nā tōna kōkā ia i akiaki ki te tono i te karahipi, me te hiahia ki te whakanui i ōna tīpuna i uru ki ngā pakanga maha, tae atu ki tōna ake tipuna a Barney Te Kani, i whakawhiti i te ao ki te pakanga mō tōna iwi.

Ka hoki a Jacqueline ki ngā kupu akiaki a tōna kōkā, nāna ia i whakahihiri ki te whakanui i te hunga nō mua i a ia, ā, me te whai i ō rātou tapuwae mā te hāpai i ō rātou uara o te toa, o te pakari me te manawa ū, i te ao Māori me te ao Pākehā.

Hei tāna, mā te karahipi nei e whakamāmā i ngā taumahatanga o te pūtea, te whakaiti i te kohuki, e āhei ai rātou ko tana whānau ki te aro ki tō rātou ake oranga.

“He hōnore nui, he momoho mōku, otirā e noho whakaiti ana ahau ki te whiwhi i tēnei karahipi whakahī, mō taku whānau me taku hapori o Te Tairāwhiti.”

“Mōku ake, he tohu tēnei karahipi i te manawa ū ki te mahi, me te manawaroa, i te wā e tautoko ana au i taku hapori ki te whakanui i ngā mahi a te hunga i pakanga mō tātou te painga, i roto i te Ope Taua 28 (Māori).”

English

Jacqueline is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Laws and Arts, majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in Theology at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago in Ōtepoti | Dunedin. She is a former student of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whatatutu, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri-a-Māui and Campion College in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne.

Jacqueline shares that it was her mother who encouraged her to apply for this scholarship, with the desire to honour her tīpuna who fought in various wars, including her own tipuna Barney Te Kani, who travelled across the world to fight for their people.

Jacqueline credits her mother’s words of encouragement for inspiring her to honour and celebrate those who came before her, and to follow in their footsteps by upholding their values of bravery, strength and remaining steadfast in both te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā.

She says that this scholarship will ease the financial burden of her studies, reducing stress and allowing her and her whānau to focus on their wellbeing.

“I am extremely honoured, privileged and humbled to receive this prestigious scholarship on behalf of my whānau and community in Te Tairāwhiti.”

“To me, this scholarship represents a commitment to service and resilience while supporting my community in recognition of the sacrifices made by those who served and fought for us in the 28th (Māori) Battalion.”

Scholarship duration: 3 years

Te reo Māori

Kei te whai a Elite i te Tohu Ture ki Waipapa Taumata Rau, otirā he tauira o mua o Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa i Kaitāia.

Ka nui te mihi a Elite ki te tautoko kiriūka a tōna whānau me ōna kaiako i roto i ngā tau, me tana kī, ki te kore te aroha i whakaaturia e te hunga rā, kua kore ia e eke ki te tangata e tū nei ia i tēnei rā. He nui tana whakawhetai ki a rātou mō te ārahi haere i a ia i tana huarahi mātauranga.

“He mea nui te whiwhi i tēnei karahipi, hei whakamahara ki ō tātou tīpuna i whawhai, i mate hoki, kia whai huarahi whakamua ahau, otirā te huarahi i matapaetia e rātou mō ā rātou mokopuna.”

Hei tā Elite, ka whakamāmā te karahipi i ngā pēhanga moni o te ako, te āwhina me ngā utu wāhi noho me ngā utu ki te ako.

English

Elite is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Law at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland and is a former student of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa in Kaitaia.

Elite expresses deep gratitude for the unwavering support from his whānau and kaiako over the years, acknowledging that without their aroha he would not have become the person he is today. He is extremely thankful for their constant guidance throughout his educational journey.

“It is a privilege to receive a scholarship in memory of our tūpuna who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could have the future they envisioned for their mokopuna.”

Elite says the scholarship will ease the financial pressures of studying, helping with the cost of accommodation and course fees.

Scholarship duration: 1 year

Te reo Māori

I tēnei wā kei te whai a Rāwiri i Te Tohu Paerua Mātarauranga Reo Rumaki ki Te Whare Wānanga o Raukawa, ā, he tauira o mua o Tolaga Bay Area School me Kahukuranui i Ūawa.

Hei tā Rāwiri, he hōnore tēnei kia noho hei kaiwhiwhi o te tohu whakahī o Ngārimu, me te tōai anō i te hirahira o te whakanui i te takenga mai o tēnei karahipi me te iwi nā rātou i whakarite.

“Ka tika kia maumaharatia a Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu me te Ope 28 (Māori), ā rātou raupanga me ō rātou uara. Pēnā i a rātou, me ū tonu tātou, me whakapātaritari i ngā wero e pēhi tonu nei i te iwi Māori.”

“Mā Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu me te Ope 28 (Māori) tātou e whakahihiri kia eke ki ngā taumata teitei, hei painga mō te iwi Māori.”

Hei tā Rāwiri, ko tana hihiritanga ki te tono karahipi, ko tana matenui ki te tautoko i tana whānau, te hapū me te iwi.

“Mā tēnei karahipi e āwhina ki te whakaiti i ngā pēhanga ā-pūtea o te ako, ā, ka āwhina i ahau kia eke ai ōku wawata reo Māori, kia whai pūkenga ahau hei āwhina i taku hapori.”

Hei tā Rāwiri, ko tōna moemoeā, he hoki ki te kāinga ki te whakaako ki tētahi kura reo Māori, me te whakawhanake tonu i ōna pūkenga reo, hei painga mō tōna iwi.

English

Rawiri expresses that it is an honour to be a recipient of the prestigious Ngarimu award and emphasises the importance of acknowledging the origins of this scholarship and the people that made it possible.

“It is only right that we remember Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and the 28th (Māori) Battalion, the sacrifices they made and the values they represent. Like them, we must remain steadfast and confront the ongoing challenges that continue to marginalise te iwi Māori.”

“The stories of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and the 28th (Māori) Battalion should inspire us to achieve at the highest levels, for the betterment of te iwi Māori.”

Rawiri shares that his motivation for applying for the scholarship was driven by his desire to support his whānau, hapū and iwi.

“This scholarship will help reduce the financial pressures of studying and will help me achieve my reo Māori aspirations, so I am better equipped to serve my community.”

Rawiri expresses that it is his dream to return home to teach at a reo Māori kura and to further develop his language skills in service to his people.

Scholarship duration: 1 year

Te reo Māori

Kei te whai a Mereana i tana Tohu Paerua Whakaako Mātanga - Te Korowai Mokopuna, ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa. He tauira o mua ia o te Kura Kōhine o Hato Hōhepa i Ahuriri, ā, kei te mahi ia ki tētahi Kōhanga reo i tēnei wā.

Hei tā Mereana, mā tēnei karahipi ia e whiwhi arawātea hou, kia āhei hoki ia ki te tuitui i ētahi hononga whaitake ki ētahi atu.

“Mā tēnei karahipi hoki e āhei ai au ki te aro ki ētahi atu āhuatanga i tua atu o te whakaako, me te tiri i aku wheako ki taku whānau me te hapori. Mā te pēnei, ka whai hua tātou katoa, ka ako, ā, ka tipu ngātahi.”

Hei tāna, e noho whakaiti ana ia ki te whiwhi i te karahipi o Ngarimu, otirā e whakawhetai ana ki te āhei ki te whai tonu i te ara mātauranga, e arahina ana e ngā uara tino hirahira ki a ia me tōna whānau.

“I whakaaturia e Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me ngā hōia o te 28 (Māori) tō rātou toa, manawanui me te pūkeke. Nā tō rātou whakareretanga ahau i whakahihiri kia puta i taku āhurutanga, me te tono i tēnei karahipi.”

Ko te manako o Mereana ko te whakatō i ngā āhuatanga maha i whakatinanahia e Te Moana-nui-a- Kiwa me te Ope 28 (Māori) ki roto i ngā mokopuna ka whakaakona e ia, te whakamana i a rātou kia tū pakari i tēnei ao hurihuri.

“Ko ngā mokopuna te take, mō ngā mokopuna te take.”

English

Mereana is currently studying towards a Masters of Specialist Teaching – Te Korowai Mokopuna at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa | Massey University. She is a former student of St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College in Ahuriri | Napier and is currently working at a Kōhanga reo.

Mereana shares that this scholarship will provide her with new opportunities and enable her to build meaningful connections with others.

“This scholarship will also allow me to focus more on my learning and share my experiences with my whānau and community. In doing so, we all benefit, learn and grow together.”

She expresses being truly humbled to receive the Ngarimu scholarship and is grateful for the opportunity to continue her educational journey, guided by the values that are deeply important to her and her whānau.

“Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and the soldiers of the 28th (Māori) Battalion showed bravery, courage and determination. Their legacy has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and apply for this award.”

Mereana hopes to instil many of the qualities embodied by Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and the 28th (Māori) Battalion in the tamariki mokopuna she teaches, empowering them to stand strong in this changing world.

“Ko ngā mokopuna te take, mō ngā mokopuna te take.”

Scholarship duration: 2 years

Te reo Māori

I tēnei wā e whai ana a Nina i tana Tohu Paerua Whakaari ki te Royal College of Music i Rānana, otirā he tauira o mua o te Kura Tuarua o Cashmere i Ōtautahi.

Hei tā Nina, he hōnore nui te noho hei kaiwhiwhi o te karahipi o Ngarimu 2025, me te kī ake, ki te kore tēnei tautoko māhorahora, kua kore e tareka e ia te ako i tāwāhi.

“Nā tēnei tautoko, i āhei ai ahau ki te whai i ngā arawātea whakaari i te Royal College of Music, te whai i ngā whakangungu āpiti me ngā akoranga tohunga, kia wātea ai ahau ki te mahi i ngā mahi hei whakapakari i aku pūkenga hei kaiwhakaako.”

“Tae noa ki tēnei rā, ko te hunga piripono kua tūtaki ahau i roto i ngā tau ko ngā mema o Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa. He mākohakoha, he māhorahora hoki aku kaiako me aku hoa, otirā nā rātou ahau i whakahihiri kia whai i ōku moemoeā ki tua o pae tawhiti, ā, me te hoki mai anō ki te whāngai i ngā hua ki taku hapori ake.”

Hei tā Nina, i whakahihiritia ia ki te tono i tēnei tohu, nā tētahi kōrero ki tana hoa mō ngā uara o Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa me ngā hītori hoki o te Ope 28 (Māori).

E hihiri ana ia ki te hoki mai ki te kāinga me ngā mātauranga me ngā wheako i whāia e ia, e hīkaka ana kia whai wāhi ki te rāngai ahurea toi me te mātauranga ngangahau i konei i Aotearoa.

English

Nina is currently studying towards a Masters of Performance at the Royal College of Music in London and is a former student of Cashmere High School in Ōtautahi | Christchurch.

Nina expresses great honour in being a recipient of the 2025 Ngarimu scholarship, noting that without this generous support, she would not be able to continue her studies abroad.

“With this support, I am able to participate in more performance opportunities at the Royal College of Music, take additional lessons and masterclasses and dedicate more time to projects that will improve my skills as an educator.”

“To this day, the best people I have met and worked with have been members of the New Zealand Defence Force. My teachers and colleagues are kind, generous and have inspired me to pursue my dreams to the best of my abilities, and to give back to my own community.”

Nina shares that she was inspired to apply for this award after a conversation with a colleague about the values of the New Zealand Defence Force and the history of the 28th (Māori) Battalion.

She is excited to return home with the knowledge and experiences she has gained, eager to continue contributing to the vibrant arts culture and education sector here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Scholarship duration: 2 years

Te reo Māori

Kei te whai a Peata i tana Tohu Kairangi Kaupapa Māori ki Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, otirā he tauira o mua ia o Te Kura Tuarua o Western Heights i Rotorua. E mahi ana ia ināianei hei Upoko o ngā Kawe Pūrongo ki Whakaata Māori.

Hei tā Peata, i pakeke mai ia i tētahi whānau i noho ai tēnei mea te kawe kōrero hei wāhanga matua o te ia rā, mā roto i ngā mahi whakaari me te kapa haka.

Nō te wehenga i te kura tuarua, ka kuhu a Peata ki te mahi pouaka whakaata, i reira ka poipoia ōna pūkenga kawe kōrero, me tana kaingākau ki te tuhituhi, i te wā e whakawhanake ana i tētahi kanohi hōmiromiro, inakoa rā ki ngā kawe kōrero Māori, tatū noa ki ōna hoa mahi Māori.

“Ahakoa kua tipu pakari te whakaata a te Māori i te rāngai pouaka whakaata i ngā tekau tau kua hipa, kāore tonu i eke ki te taumata tika, hei utu i te tāmitanga tauroa o ngā kōrero a te Māori.”

“Nā tēnei i whakaawe i taku aronga mō taku Kairangi Kaupapa Māori ki Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi: Decolonising Māori Storytelling in Screen Media.”

Hei tā Peata, i hua ake tana awenga ki te tono i tēnei karahipi i tana whai wāhi hei kaiwhakapāoho o te whakaaturanga pouaka whakaata o te rā o ANZAC, me te taunga o te mōhio ki a ia o te whai wāhi o ōna tīpuna ki te Te Hokowhitu a Tū me Kamupene C.

“Ki ōku whakaaro koinei te wā tika mōku ki te tono i tēnei karahipi. I tua atu i tana noho hei karahipi Māori mana nui rawa o te motu, ināianei kua whai hononga ahau ki tēnei tohu.”

“Mā tēnei karahipi me aku rangahau, e whai ana ahau ki te waihanga i tētahi anga ka tautoko i ngā kaihanga kaupapa me ngā kaitautoko ā-pūtea, mā te whakapū i te tirohanga a te Māori.”

He mihi nui whakaharahara tō Peata mōna i whakawhiwhia ki tēnei karahipi whakahī, ā, nā tēnei e āhei ai ia ki te whakahaere uiui ā-kanohi, i runga anō i te tikanga o te manaakitanga e tika ana mō ōna kaiwhakauru.

English

Peata is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Māori Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and is a former student of Western Heights High School in Rotorua. She is now working as the Head of News at Whakaata Māori.

Peata shares that she grew up in a whānau where storytelling was an integral part of daily life through drama productions and kapa haka.

After leaving high school, Peata entered the television industry, where she nurtured her storytelling skills and passion for writing while developing a critical eye, particularly towards Māori stories and her Māori peers.

“While Māori representation in the screen industry has grown over the past decade, it’s still not enough to counter the longstanding colonisation of Māori narratives.”

“This inspired the focus of my PhD in Māori Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi: Decolonising Māori Storytelling in Screen Media.”

Peata explains that her inspiration to apply for this scholarship came from her involvement as a presenter in the annual ANZAC television broadcast and from recently learning about her tūpuna who were part of the Pioneers Battalion and C Company.

“It felt both timely and fitting to apply for the scholarship. Not only is it the most prestigious Māori scholarship available, but I now have a personal connection to it.”

“With this scholarship and through my research, I aim to create a framework that supports content creators and funders, placing a Māori perspective at the centre.”

Peata expresses deep gratitude for receiving this prestigious scholarship and that it will allow her to conduct interviews in person, in a way that reflects manaakitanga and care her participants deserves.

Scholarship duration: 1 year

Te reo Māori

Kei te whai a Gabriella i tana tohu Paetahi Nēhi ki Toi Ohomai, otirā he tauira o mua o Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga i Pārāwai.

Hei tā Gabriella, he hōnore nui tēnei mōna kia kōwhiria hei kaiwhiwhi o te karahipi o Ngarimu, me te whakaatu anō i te hononga ā-wairua hōhonu o te tohu nei mōna.

“Ko te whakamanatanga me te whakaute tēnei i te mana me te whakahī o ōku tīpuna i te wā o te riri, tae atu ki ngā tau i muri ake. “Ka hīkoi tahi rātou me ahau i tēnei ara mātauranga, me te whakaawe i ahau kia whāia te kairangitanga.”

I tīmata te whai a Gabriella i te huarahi hei nēhi i te 2022. I te tipuranga o tōna mātauranga i te hauora, i tipu hoki tana kaingākau ki tōna ahurea.

“Ka hika tēnei i tana pāuaua ki te mahi i ngā mahi hei painga mō tōna iwi.”

I whai āheinga a Gabriella ki te haere ki tētahi hui nēhi ā-motu, nōna i reira ka tūhono ki ētahi atu tauira rite tahi ki a ia, me te whāngaihia ōna e ngā kaihautū hauora Māori. Hei tāna, nā ēnei wheako i āwhina ki te whakapakari i tōna tuakiri ahurea.

“Ka rumaki tonu ahau i ahau ki te wairuatanga o taku whakapapa, otirā ka tipu ahau me te tautoko o ōku hoa me ōku tuākana.”

“Hei māmā ki ngā tamariki tokotoru, ka whakapakari tēnei tohu i taku mānawatanga, taku pāuaua me te manawa ū hei Nēhi Māori, e tuwhera mai ai ngā arawātea ki te whakapiki haere i aku mātauranga i te hauora.

English

Gabriella is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Nursing at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and is a former student of Thames High School in Pārāwai | Thames.

Gabriella shares that she is deeply honoured to be chosen as a recipient of the Ngarimu scholarship, expressing that this award holds great spiritual significance to her.

“The mana and pride of my tūpuna who fought not only during the war, but throughout the years that followed is now being recognised and appreciated. They walk with me on this academic journey, inspiring me to strive for excellence.”

Gabriella’s journey towards becoming a nurse started in 2022. As her knowledge in health grew so did her passion for her culture.

“This fuelled my determination to take action for the betterment of my people.”

Gabriella has had the privilege of attending national nursing hui where she connected with like-minded students and learned from Māori leaders in health. She says these experiences have helped strengthen her cultural identity.

“I continue to immerse myself in the wairuatanga of my whakapapa and flourish with the support of my peers and tuākana.”

“As a mother of three tamariki, this award will strengthen my confidence, determination and commitment as a Neehi Māori, opening up more opportunities to further my education in health.”

Scholarship duration: 1 year

Te reo Māori

E whai ana a Kata i tētahi akoranga Reo Rumaki i Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

Hei tāna, he hōkaitanga hirahira tēnei i tōna wawata kia tū hei kaihautū matatau ki te reo Māori ki te kura, kia pakari ai te hāpai i ngā hapori Māori me Te Moana-nui-a- Kiwa.

He tauira o mua a Kata o Te Kāreti o Baradene i Tāmaki Makaurau, otirā koinei te wāhi i tīmata ai te tipu o tana kaingākau ki te ao Māori, te hauora Māori me te hautūtanga.

“I taua wā, i toro atu ahau ki ngā arawātea ki te whai i taku tuakiritanga, me te whakatipu anō i te whakaute nui ki te Māoritanga.”

Hei tā Kata, nā te whakapakari i tana tuakiritanga me tana kaingākau ki te hauora, i ārahi i a ia kia mahi tahi ki ngā rangatahi Māori, o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa hoki hei mātanga hauora, mō te iwa tau.

He oranga ngākau mōna te tautoko i ō rātou oranga me te tuakiri ahurea, ā, nā tēnei mahi i kōkiri i tana pūmau ki te whai i te reo, te whakatipu hoki i te taha o tana hapori e noho pononga nei ia.

Hei tāna, he hōnore nui whakaharahara mōna te whakawhiwhinga ki tēnei tohu, ā, ka āhei ia ki te whai i ngā tapuwae o ōna tīpuna, arā, te whakatinana i tō rātou aumangea me te kaha.

“Ka tautoko tēnei karahipi i taku haerenga, te whakamāmā i ngā taumahatanga o te pūtea, e āhei ai ahau ki te aro motuhake ki te whai i taku reo ātaahua rirerire.”

Mā te tautoko a tēnei karahipi, hei tā Kata, ka whakamanatia ia ki te whakatinana i ngā wawata o te hapū me te hapori, otirā e ū ana ia ki te ārahi i ngā whakareanga kia whāia tēnei ara.

English

Kata is currently undertaking a Rumaki Reo programme at Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

She says this is an important step in her aspiration to become a senior leader fluent in te reo Māori in kura, so she can confidently uplift Māori and Pacific communities.

Kata is a former student of Baradene College in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland where her passion for te ao Māori, hauora Māori and leadership began to blossom.

“During this time, I embraced opportunities to deepen my tuakiritanga, fostering a profound appreciation for Māoritanga.”

Kata shares that strengthening her tuakiritanga and passion for hauora led her to work closely with Māori and Pacific rangatahi as a specialist health educator for nine years.

Supporting their wellbeing and cultural identity has been deeply fulfilling and this work has fuelled her commitment to prioritising her reo, growing alongside the communities she serves.

She describes being awarded this scholarship as a profound honour and will allow her to walk in the footsteps of her tūpuna, embodying their resilience and strength.

“This scholarship will be instrumental in supporting my haerenga, easing financial pressures and allowing me to fully dedicate myself to the pursuit of our beautiful reo.”

With the support of this scholarship, Kata says she is empowered to fulfil both hapū and community aspirations and is committed to guiding future generations to do the same.