More than 100 people attended the presentation of the 2018 AST Scholarships at the Mangakōtukutuku campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa last week.

For the first year, three Te Matatini Kapa Haka Scholarships were presented to tauira studying towards He Waka Hiringa – Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge, with a subject focus in kapa haka.

The Te Matatini scholarships were offered in partnership between The Aotearoa Scholarship Trust and Te Matatini Society Incorporated and were presented by Te Matatini executive director Carl Ross, who told the audience the scholarships were part of a move by Te Matatini to further support rangahau into kapa haka to ensure a sustainable future.

Te Matatini scholarships were presented to Kaitātaki Wahine from Te Matatini 2017 Pimia Wehi,

Te Puu Ao stalwart Recenia Kaka and Naomi Herewini-Houia from Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.

In a nice touch, the Tāne Taylor Memorial Scholarship was presented by Tāne Taylor’s sister Te Pareraukawa Kemara-Campbell, the Dr Buck Nin Memorial Scholarship was presented by his son Daymon Nin and the Dr Diggeress Te Kanawa Memorial Scholarship was presented by Diggeress’ daughter, Kahutoi Te Kanawa on behalf of the Te Kanawa whānau.

AST Chair Hone Paul says it is important to maintain the connection between Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, the award donors, their whānau and scholarship recipients.

“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. We could see by the reaction of some of the award recipients, how much it meant to have their scholarships presented by someone with a direct connection to the award donor. It’s also important to honour the whānau of the award donors, who continue to support Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and our aim of tauira success.”

In the past seven years, the Aotearoa Scholarship Trust has paid around $600,000 to tauira throughout the country who have demonstrated a commitment to educational success and a desire to give back to their communities and whānau.

The 2018 AST Scholarship recipients are:

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 -  Ngāti 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, Ngāti Hine.

Te Matatini Year One Scholarship

Recenia Kāka – Ngāpuhi

Te Matatini Year Two Tauira Scholarship valued at up to $10,000

Naomi Herewini-Houia - Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Waikato, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Awa, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki

Te Matatini Year Two Tauira Scholarship valued at up to $10,000

Pimia Wehi - Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-A-Apanui, Ngai Tuhoe

• In the coming weeks we’ll be profiling all the 2018 AST Scholarship winners.