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Ministry of Education New Zealand

2025 Awards Ceremony

Awards ceremony details

  • Date: 13 March 2025
  • Venue: Parliament, Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington
  • Time: 3.30pm to 8.00pm
  • Livestream: a livestream link will be published on this page from 6 March

This year’s scholarship recipients include 1 doctoral candidate, 3 masters students, 3 undergraduate students and 2 vocational education and training students.

The ceremony will also celebrate the winners of the 2024 Ngarimu video competition and the inaugural Ngarimu waiata composition competition.

Join us to support our deserving scholars as they receive their special awards.

 

Information

Key dates

Applications often open around June.

Applications often close around September.

Purpose

The purpose of the competitions is to honour the legacy of Victoria Cross winner Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and members of the 28th (Māori) Battalion. It encourages ākonga to express their knowledge and personal connections to the 28th (Māori) Battalion through waiata | song or video.

Who can apply

  • Entrants must be of Māori descent or whakapapa to a recognised Māori iwi.
  • Competitions are open to ākonga | students in Years 7 to 13.
  • You can submit your project as an individual, a team or a kura | school.
  • You must be enrolled at a registered school or kura or a group of registered schools or kura, such as a Community of Learning | Kāhui Ako, or have a certificate of exemption from enrolment at a registered school.

This project should be led by ākonga. No professional assistance is allowed.

Any Ministry of Education staff member or board member whose tamariki | children is entering these competitions must email us to declare any conflict of interest before entering.

Email: [email protected]

Categories

There are 2 prize categories:

  • English or bilingual
  • te reo Māori.

Competitors can enter both categories by composing a waiata or producing a video and then submitting different language versions.

Entries in te reo Māori must be shared in both te reo Māori and in English.

Kaupapa | Themes

There are 4 themes for participants to choose from:

  1. A tūpuna | ancestor or member of the 28th (Māori) Battalion from your rohe | region. Compose a waiata or produce a video about them and tell us what makes that person a tāonga to you, your whānau, kura, community, hapū or iwi.
  2. 28th (Māori) Battalion event and/or company. Compose a waiata or produce a video about a 28th (Māori) Battalion event and/or company (A, B, C, D and HQ). What made it special to you and your rohe?
  3. The price of citizenship. Compose a waiata or produce a video on the contribution of Māori to World War I and/or World War II. Think about why you and your whānau did or did not support the war.
  4. The wāhine of the 28th Māori Battalion. Compose a waiata or produce a video about a wāhine or pouaru and the significant role she played in supporting the 28th Māori Battalion, their whānau and rohe, during and/or post-war.

Judging criteria

The judges will focus on these key criteria:

  • Tell a story (how the audience can get a sense of the 28th Māori Battalion member or unit being researched).
  • Evoke an emotional response.
  • Create a video or write a waiata that is either entertaining or thought-provoking.

Use artistic flair, originality and creativity.

Tip

  • Make sure to pronounce Māori names, places, and terms correctly.
  • Try to balance text with multimedia (like video, photos, and audio) to make your video more interesting and engaging.
  • Share your draft video with teachers, peers, or whānau to get feedback before you submit it.

Prizes

Entries in te reo Māori

PrizesFor the student/sFor a nominated school, kura or homeschool parentTotal
FirstUp to $960Up to $410Up to $1,370
SecondUp to $740Up to $320Up to $1,060
ThirdUp to $420Up to $180Up to $600

Entries in English or that are bilingual

PrizesFor the student/sFor a nominated school, kura or homeschool parentTotal
FirstUp to $960Up to $410Up to $1,370
SecondUp to $740Up to $320Up to $1,060
ThirdUp to $420Up to $180Up to $600

Recognition and prizes will be awarded to the lead producer/composer and all individuals listed as co-producers/co-composers on the entry form.

Prize payments will be sent to the school’s bank account that we have on record. The school or kura is responsible for making sure the payment is distributed correctly.

Resources

Waiata, haka, plays, films, documentaries, war memorials, letters, artefacts and other tāonga are held in libraries, archive centres, museums, with whānau and at marae.

Connect with people in your rohe for advice.

There is also information online for you to explore.

Kia Mau – TKI

28th Māori Battalion website

Archives New Zealand

National Library of New Zealand

Ministry for Culture and Heritage

How to apply

Whakapā

Contact

If you need help with submitting your entry, email us.

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