Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust awards STEM Scholarships to outstanding academics

Shaun Te Rire McNeil is one of the 2022 Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust (TST) Scholarship recipients. The Settlement Trust has sponsored Te Rire McNeils education since 2020. This year he’s on the way to earning his PHD in Chemistry. The research needed to earn his PHD focuses on honey and its healing properties. “I am a natural products chemist … one; I figure out what things from nature are made out of. “After I figure out what things are made out of, I also figure out what they do.”

Which means he can identify how honey can fight disease and improve health. Te Rire McNeil explained to Te Kōtuku that his father passed away from cancer. He hopes his research can find ways to help cancer sufferers and improve our wellbeing. The young Tūwharetoa scientist explains how science can benefit Tūwharetoa and Aotearoa as a whole.

Science has things to offer to make everyday life a little easier for everyone.

“Science can help us come up with medicines, so if you’re sick, you can feel a little bit better.

He adds it can help us live in harmony with nature and improves our lives.

About Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust

STEM Scholarships Every year, TST awards three $10,000 STEM scholarships. Applicants must be registered uri of Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust. TST recognises the importance of STEM and seeks to help Tūwharetoa uri enter these industries. Regarding STEM, deputy chair Georgina te Heuheu said;

We appreciate the importance of education in the ongoing advancement of our people and our communities. And our STEM scholarships are aimed at those of our whānau seeking to help unlock the potential for wellbeing and growth in the fields of science and technology.

Through the programme we also hope to encourage more of our young people to seek careers in these disciplines.