Five young Māori – honouring the contribution of their tipuna to the Gallipoli campaign, and displaying characteristics consistent with the 28th Māori Battalion soldiers – received scholarships for Undergraduate, Masters and Doctoral study.
Published: Rāapa, 06 Haratua, 2015 | Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Education Minister Hekia Parata acknowledged the young scholars, and their whānau, at a special ceremony held at Parliament.
“The scholarships were established as a way to assist exceptional Māori to go on to influence future generations as those of the 28th (Māori) Battalion have done,” said Minister Parata. “Today, we face very different challenges to that faced by the men of the 28th (Māori) Battalion. But our goal should be the same as theirs - tū rangatira, stand strong, tall and proud.”
Minister Parata spoke of some of the characteristics the 28th Māori Battalion exhibited in the face of danger that were now being replicated by the successful scholarship recipients including rangatiratanga – leadership qualities, manaakitanga – contribution to the community, and whakaritetanga – the ability to balance studies with everyday life.
“It is fantastic to see a new generation of young people so determined to give back to the communities they were raised in, preserve their unique culture and improve the overall well-being of their fellow Māori,” said Minister Parata. “A new generation of young people that, I’m sure, Second Lieutenant Ngārimu and the 28th (Māori) Battalion would be proud of.”
The 2014/2015 recipients are:
- Tahlia Kingi (Te Arawa, Te Aitanga-ā-Hauiti) – Doctor of Philosophy majoring in psychology. Tahlia is currently researching self-injury among rangatahi Māori and how they (and their whānau) can be supported to determine their own well-being.
- Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu (Ngāpuhi, Taranaki, Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui) – Masters of Applied Sciences, majoring in marine biology, aquaculture and marine ecology. Te Rerekohu is in his final year of study researching ways to make pāua sustainable for future generations.
- Hine Kawana (Rangitāne, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngā Wairiki, Te Ati hau-nui-a-Papārangi) – Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology. Hine is in her first year of tertiary study and is determined to be the first student from her kura kaupapa Māori to follow a pathway in psychology.
- Coralie Takuira Dargaville (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. Coralie is in her fifth year of medical school, already holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiology, and has worked for four years as a scientist doing diabetes and cancer research.
- James Enright (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui) – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. James wants to improve the poor health statistics of Māori and aims to make a difference by becoming a General Practitioner.
“In 1945, the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund was established,” said Minister Parata “This recognised the prestige and esteem that all New Zealanders held to the contribution and sacrifice of Māori during the Second World War. We will remember them. Ka maumahara tonu tātou kia rātou.”
Caption: Coralie Takuira Dargaville (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi), Hine Kawana (Rangitāne, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngā Wairiki, Te Ati-hau-nui-a-Papārangi), Tahlia Kingi (Te Arawa, Te Aitanga-ā-Hauiti), Education Minister Hon Hekia Parata, Te Rerekohu Tūterangiwhiu (Ngāpuhi, Taranaki, Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui), and James Enright (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui).