Tuesday 4 September 2018 10:23am
The University of Otago’s Kupe Scholars Erin Scott (left) and Monique Nees-Kairua pose alongside Associate Minister of Education, the Honourable Kelvin Davis, who presented them with their awards.
The pair are studying towards a Master of Teaching and Learning, and are two of 30 students from across the country who were honoured at Parliament last month.
Sponsored by TeachNZ, the scholarships aim to support Māori and Pacific peoples into becoming teachers and community role models.
The scholarship pays for their fees, provides a generous stipend to help them through their studies and offers mentoring and networking opportunities.
For Erin, of Ngāti Whātua and Te Uri o Hau descent, the scholarship will help her work towards her goal of normalising Te Reo Māori within mainstream primary schools.
The scholarship is the start of a new journey for Monique (Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi), who earlier this year arrived home after spending 18 months cycling with her partner from London to Bluff while raising money for suicide prevention.