Five young Māori tertiary students have been awarded Ngārimu VC scholarships to help them further their academic studies.
The scholarships were awarded by the Ngārimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board.
Left to right: Coralie Takuira Dargaville, Hine Kawana, Tahlia Kingi, Hekia Parata, Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu and James Enright. Photo: Ngārimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund
One of the recipients, James Enright, of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Ruanui descent, is studying for a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Auckland.
Mr Enright has a certificate in Health Sciences and serves as a 'Teddy Doctor' or health ambassador, for the Teddy Bear Hospital.
He visits kindergartens and primary schools to raise awareness of healthcare.
Mr Enright said his undergraduate scholarship, which provides $10,000 a year, will sustain his studies for the next eight years.
He told Te Manu Korihi that after he completed his studies he might develop Māori health policies and carry out some Māori health research, but was just keen to get his undergraduate studies out of the way before he considers his next direction.
"We are a people in crisis with health statistics that are consistently poorer than Pākehā. In the future I aim to make a difference by working as a general practitioner."
Hine Kawana is of Rangitāne, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngā Wairiki and Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi descent and is a former student of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki in Palmerston North. She will receive $10,000 a year for her full-time study for up to five years.
She is in her first year of tertiary study and is working towards a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Waikato.
She said besides her Bachelor of Arts and her desire to teach and promote the Māori language, she is keen to pursue a degree in psychology.
"Ko te whāinga nui i tōku ao ko te reo Māori, kia kaha te reo Māori i te ao hurihuri," hei tā Kawana.
"The big focus in my world is the Māori language, so that the language becomes stronger in this modern world," Miss Kawana said.
Coralie Takuira Dargaville of Te Rārawa and Ngāpuhi descent is studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Auckland.
She already has a BSc in neuroscience, BSc Honours in physiology and has worked for four years as a scientist, researching diabetes and cancer. Her research is into how newly-revealed growth pathways can sense sugar and was published in the prestigious UK Biochemical Journal.
The young wahine is proud of her whakapapa links to the heroes of the 28th Maori Battalion. Her great grandfather was Captain Harding Waipuike Leaf. Coralie said that throughout her life she had received a great deal of whānau support.
Now, she is giving something back.
"I am committed to our people's welfare and health. I aim to achieve this through my interest in medicine and by being present in te ao Māori... I want to work at a level where decisions are made, so that tikanga Māori is integrated into health service delivery."
Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu of Ngāpuhi, Taranaki, Ngāti Ranginui and Tainui descent is studying a Masters of Applied Science at Auckland University of Technology. He is researching ways to make sure pāua are plentiful for communities and generations to come.
Mr Tūterangiwhiu has plans to start aquaculture ventures that will employ, educate and empower his iwi and hapū.
"E ōku wawata i tēnei wā ko te ara o te pūtaiao i roto i ngā mahi ako o te moana me ngā katiaki o tangaroa", hei tā Tūterangiwhiu.
"My ambitions for now are taking a scientific pathway in how the ocean works and how to be a guardian of Tangaroa (of the ocean)", Mr Tūterangiwhiu said.
Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu was awarded the Masters scholarship which will see him receiving $15,000 a year for his full-time study for up to two years.
Tahlia Kingi of Te Arawa, and Te Āitanga-ā-Hauiti descent is completing her Doctorate in Philosophy, majoring in psychology at Victoria University of Wellington.
She wants to become a clinical psychologist and will complete her PhD in 2016, examining self-injury among rangatahi Māori. She will receive $25,000 a year for her full-time study for up to two years.
