POU TANGATA

ngāti tūwharetoa are educated, healthy and connected

We are successful and leaders within our chosen fields. Our quality of life is always improving, we are healthy and active, and we maintain strong relationships with our whānau, hapū and iwi.

EDUCATION GRANTS

Our tupuna had the foresight to identify education as the key to the future success of our people. Education grants remain one of our most popular forms of support. Grants were distributed as shown on a percentage basis in the chart below:

/ EDUCATION GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS SUMMARY

5 6 1

4 3 2 1 / 1% Scholarships 2 / 35% Te Kohanga Reo & Early Childhood 3 / 19% Secondary NCEA 4 / 1% Trade Training 5 / 40% Tertiary 6 / 4% Special Needs

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Education scholarships were awarded to Tūwharetoa uri studying in areas such as science, indigenous studies, law and commerce. Ruby Pitiroi / Hapū: Ngāti Te Rangiita / Ngāti

Ruingarangi / Ngāti Hinerau / Ngāti

Tūtemohutā / Programme: Doctor of Philosophy –

Victoria University of Wellington

I have been encouraged to pursue this course of study as a way of documenting some of the remains of tribal knowledge related to our spiritual relationship with our waterways.

It is a progression from the work I have been doing at the interface between the environment and education for more than a decade.

I enjoy researching the issues that are important to our people and hope to continue doing this in the future. It is particularly important to continue re-building the tribal knowledge base that has been severely impacted by colonisation.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa whānau should pay attention to what they are passionate about and pursue that. Personal fulfilment, happiness and internal growth are enhanced when you are driven by what is in your heart. Academic study in your field of interest is one of the paths that can help turn your passion into a career.

Charquera Tobin-Cribb / Hapū: Ngāti Te Kohera / Programme: Bachelor of Science (Clinical

Psychology), Auckland University

Being passionate about supporting people through times of difficulty I chose to study psychology to provide me with the chance to do so. By studying clinical psychology I am able to learn the clinical skills required to stand along side people and support them on their journey to mental well-being.

In the future I hope to become a clinical psychologist and practice across Aotearoa. In doing so, it will allow me to work within our communities and provide support to those in need.

I would recommend clinical psychology as it allows you to work directly with our communities to help strengthen and support them. Not only this but it also enables you to make a meaningful difference in whānau lives.

Heni Te Rere O Kapu Unwin / Hapū: Ngāti Karauia / Programme: Master of Environmental

Science, Canterbury University

I go to the moana, the awa, the roto, the ngāhere and my whānau to heal, to feel good and to uplift my wairua. I want to take care of those things that take care of me. This is the pathway where I think I can do that the best.

I am currently a Marine Scientist working at Cawthron Institute. I am getting a masters so I can become a better scientist and to better help and uplift Māori communities through the science sector.

Currently, only two percent of all scientists are Māori and Pasifika. All Māori are scientist because our mātauranga and ways of knowing is based off science. We have a better way of understanding the taiao and can take better care of the taiao for future generations. Andrew Karatea / Ngāti Waewae / Programme: Bachelor of Laws and

Commerce, Auckland University

I chose to study law because it is something that I am passionate about. Having the chance to learn about the structures that govern society is something that is particularly interesting to me. However, the chance to help mould society that comes with earning a law degree is even more enticing. For me, the combination of theoretical understanding and the ability to make a difference is why I chose to study for my degree.

Honestly, it is hard to tell exactly where I want to end up in the future. I have a passion for Māori issues and would love to have a career in Māori Land law or Iwi Governance. I would love to have the chance to work for the Waitangi tribunal as well. But for now, who knows what will happen to me! Law and business degrees are often (wrongly) perceived as boring and unhelpful for anyone seeking an exciting career. I would say that they are some of the most degrees possible though. Studying law and business helps you to better understand the world, and country, that we live in and opens the door for a huge range of exciting and engaging careers.

Tesa-Maree Herena Tewhareturoroa / Hapū: Ngāti Hine / Programme: Bachelor of Laws – Waikato

University

I choose to study a Bachelor of Laws and Political Science because it is part of my career development, which includes working in policy. I also want to improve social policies for better outcomes.

The opportunities I seek are in the government to develop social policies to make it easier for people. I would also like to see more consistency in policy development. I would recommend that other Tūwharetoa uri study law because it opens up a lot of opportunities. A law background also enables one to gain a wide range of skills that can be adapted to any role. Priscilla Te Moana / Hapū: Ngāti Turumakina / Programme: Masters of Indigenous

Studies - Te Whare Wānanga o

Awanuiarangi I choose this area of study as it is an area that I have a strong interest in and where I can hopefully help to make a positive change in Te Ao Māori by being a positive role model. My Masters thesis centres around a subject which is close to my heart that is mental health from a Māori perspective. The main goal is to attain my Masters in Indigenous Studies, a subject that is important for our people to understand where we have been (history) and where we are (present) to where we can envision to be (future). My chosen field is health in particular Māori health however this course of study can prepare students for a variety of roles. Helping to develop skills such as research self guided study and the ability to work to timeframes on complex projects.

I enjoy how my studies supports the retention of our cultural knowledge through the promotion and use of Te Reo Māori, tikanga practices and acquisition and adaption of new knowledge to benefit my iwi and Māori society.

I also enjoy the different views, opinions

and experiences from people of different backgrounds, hapū and iwi and that we can all learn from each other. These are just some of the reasons why I would recommend my chosen course of study.

Mika Te Tawhero Also received an education scholarship grant. No profile available at time of print.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

In late 2016 we entered into an agreement with Victoria University to support the education of our people at the university.

As part of the arrangement, three scholarships are offered – two at postgraduate level (each worth $2,500 each) and one at postgraduate level (worth $5,000).

Te Mapihi Tutua-Nathan / Scholarship: Te Manawa o te Ika a Maui / Hapū: Ngāti Kurauia / Ngāti Tūrangitukua / Programme: Bachelor of Health, Major

in Health Psychology, Minor in Māori

Resource Management This scholarship helped me immensely last year as I struggled to afford my transport costs to university. Instead of trying to balance part-time mahi with full-time study, I was able to use this pūtea to purchase a little moped to get me to and from my classes and assist me with class fees. The time I saved from not needing to work part-time was used towards my studies and showed in my improved grades. I am beyond grateful for this privilege.

Allandria Puna / Scholarship: Ngā Ara Mātua / Hapū: Ngāti Tutemohuta / Ngāti

Tutetawha / Ngāti Hineure me Ngāti

Hinerau oku hapū ki te taha o tōku Māmā / Programme: Bachelor of Commerce, triple Major in Accounting, Commercial

Law & Māori Studies Tēnā rā tātou katoa, he mihi nui tēnei ki tōku whānau, hapū, ā, te iwi whānui hoki mō tēnei karahipi whakahirahira. Kāore he kupu mō tōku whakawhetai nui.

Tia Haira / Scholarship: Postgraduate scholarship / Hapū: Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao,

Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Rangiteaorere,

Tūwharetoa ki Te Arawa / Programme: Bachelor of Biomedical

Science

Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Tia Haira Ahau. I whānau mai au i Rotorua. I tipu ake au i Whakarewarewa me Horohoro ki Rotorua. Ko Tuwharetoa, Tuhourangi, Whakaue me Rangiteaorere āku iwi. Ko Korohe me Papakai āku Marae ki Tuwharetoa. He kaipūtaiao au. Tihei Mauri ora!!

Hi everyone my name is Tia Haira. I was born in Rotorua. I was raised in Whakarewarewa and Horohoro both located within Rotorua. My tribal affiliations are Tūwharetoa, Tuhourangi, Whakaue and Rangiteaorere. My marae affiliations to Tūwharetoa are Korohe and Papakai. I am a scientist. I have a Bachelors and Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui (Victoria University of Wellington).

The focus of my Masters research was Mātauranga Māori and providing scientifically validate to the medicinal properties of Kānuka. Kānuka is a native New Zealand plant and was used traditional by Māori to heal a variety of medical conditions particularly skin related infections/disease. I have worked as a Research officer and tissue bank Manager at the Malaghan institute of medical research in Wellington for 1.5 years. My research here is on CAR-T cell therapy a novel cancer therapy which is currently in phase 1 of clinical trials. This research has huge potential to be a front line treatment of specific blood cancers in New Zealand such as lymphoma which is a prevalent form of cancer in Māori communities.

I am also involved in providing support and guidelines to the handling, use and disposal of human tissue from Māori donors and providing governance where necessary.

TRUST BOARD SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Rangimarie Pita Damora (Ngāti Turumakina / Ngāti Tūrangitukua) was our summer intern during the reporting period.

Studying toward a degree in environmental management / marine biology with Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and Waikato University, Rangimarie worked as part of our Natural Resources team, working in the taiao during her university break.

Rangimarie grew up in Tūrangi and was

raised to follow her dreams which has stemmed from her love of nature.

As part of internship, Rangimarie worked alongside our iwi, integrating conceptual knowledge with mātauranga Māori. Such as applying ancestral methods to Tau Kōura monitoring, researching kōrero tupuna pertaining to our awa, learning about micro-hydro systems and mahi pare kore to implement for our marae.

She says she learnt the importance of maintaining strong relationships within our iwi, hapū and whānau. As it is through strong relationships we can continue to establish, develop and strengthen our mana whenua, Tūwharetoa mātauranga, and holistic understanding of our taonga tuku iho.