Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tauira are invited to apply for financial support through the Aotearoa Scholarship Trust (AST).

The trust was established in 2010 and has so far provided more than $600,000 of funding to more than 100 successful recipients nationwide.

This year, only tauira enrolled at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa may apply for the AST scholarships/awards.

There are seven award/scholarship categories each worth $3,000 for tauira studying at diploma or degree level.

There are also two new scholarships offered by Te Matatini Society Incorporated totaling $15,000 for tauira in either their first or second year of study on He Waka Hiringa – Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge.

The focus of their study must be on kapa haka.

The memorial awards acknowledge the leaders Dr.Diggeress Te Kanawa, Tāne Taylor, Mike Watson, Dr Buck Nin and Rewi Panapa and the contributions they made to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, education, the arts and our communities.

AST chairman and Tumukahuroa Hone Paul says the criteria to apply for the scholarships has been designed to support educational excellence demonstrated by tauira who are actively contributing to whānau transformation.

"Each year, recipients are selected based on their high achieving determination and dedication to their studies, despite what life has to offer," he says.

 "This shows in many of the stories shared, from walking miles or hitching to get to class to follow their dreams, to students who are the first in their whānau to gain a degree. There are so many wonderful heart-warming stories of life and study to hear when we stop and listen."

Tauira who are great role models in the community and who are making a difference in te ao Māori are encouraged to apply.

AST application forms and information are available online at

https://www.twoa.ac.nz/Tauira-Students/Scholarships

Applications close on May 18. Scholarship winners will be announced in mid-June and all applicants will receive a letter at that time confirming the outcome of their application. 

Email ast@twoa.ac.nz for more information.