Ten Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tauira have been announced as the 2018 recipients of prestigious AST Scholarships.
Included for the first time this year are three Te Matatini Kapa Haka Scholarships for tauira studying towards He Waka Hiringa – Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge, with a subject focus in kapa haka.
Te Matatini scholarships were offered in partnership between The Aotearoa Scholarship Trust and Te Matatini Society Incorporated.
Executive director Marketing and Tauira Services and AST chair Hone Paul says the AST board had been impressed by the quality of applicants.
“Every year the standard of application seems to improve, making it a much harder task for the board to decide on the successful recipients. Many of those receiving scholarships have shown a commitment to educational success and a desire to give back to their communities and whānau.”
In the past seven years the Aotearoa Scholarship Trust has contributed almost $600,000 to scholarship recipients throughout the country, supporting their academic journey and success.
The kaupapa of ‘giving back’ is strongly evident not only in this year’s recipients but also in the contribution of those who we honour with these scholarships. The tireless efforts of Buck Nin, Rewi Panapa, Tāne Taylor, Diggeress Te Kanawa and Mike Watson continue to leave an inspiring example for tauira and whānau today, Hone says.
The scholarships will be officially presented at a luncheon at the Mangakōtukutuku campus on Friday, August 24.
The 2018 AST Scholarship recipients are:
Te Matatini Year One Scholarship
Recenia Kāka – Ngāpuhi
Te Matatini Year Two Tauira Scholarship
Naomi Herewini-Houia - Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Waikato, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Awa, Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki
Te Matatini Year Two Tauira Scholarship Pimia Wehi - Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāi Tuhoe
Te Hiringa Teaching Scholarship
Steven Heke – Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Whāwhākia, Waikato
He Waka Hiringa Scholarship
Anne Haenga – Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Porou, Hineauta
Dr Diggeress Te Kanawa Scholarship
Sarah Larkins – Rangitāne
Mike Watson Award
Zena Elliott - Ngati Awa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngai te Rangi
Tāne Taylor Award
Tauawhi Bonilla – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou
Rewi Panapa Award
Heston Potaka – Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo. Kai Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Kati Rapuwai
Dr Buck Nin Award
Mihi Ratima – Ngāi Te Rangikoianake, Ngāti Kahungungu, Mangu, Ngāti Hine.
