The Foundation develops and supports scholarship, fellowship and other programmes to support emerging Maori leaders in a range of fields
The Sir Hugh Kawharu Scholarship for Innovation in Science is a $10,000 scholarship for study at masters level in the sciences. The purpose of the Scholarship is to support and encourage masters level study by Māori in the sciences. The Scholarship is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi.
The Foundation has been proud to support outstanding Māori science scholars since the inception of the Scholarship in 2012. Past scholarship recipients have won numerous awards amongst them, including a Fulbright scholarship to undertake PhD studies in the United States (Hanareia Ehau Taumaunu, biological sciences, 2016), and scholarships to undertake PhD studies at Victoria University of Wellington (Kate Mauriohooho, volcanology, 2013). Tara McAllister (2014) was awarded an academic prize for and published her work on Phormidium river algae while Stacey Niao (2017, exercise science) found time amidst her studies to represent New Zealand in volleyball.
Kate's research and progress through her studies is celebrated in this news item from Waikato University.
Sir Hugh Kawharu served as a member of the Auckland Museum Trust Board for 30 years, and was made a Fellow and Companion of the Museum in recognition of his service to the institution. The Sir Hugh Kawharu Scholarship at the Auckland Museum comprises a grant of $10,000 for a student (undergraduate or graduate) enrolled at a New Zealand university in an area of relevance to the Museum's collections or departments and is provided by the Foundation and the Museum. The Museum administers the scholarship.
One of the past recipients of the Museum scholarship, Nikau Hindin, examined the art of Māori tapa beating as part of her PhD research. In this interview she explains the value of her research and the support provided by the Foundation that enabled that research to happen.
Another recent recipient, Lizzy Myers, is working on a PhD in marine ecology and statistics through Massey University. Her successes are reported in this media article.
The Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation has established a new scholarship in association with the University of Auckland Business School for emerging, entrepreneurial and professional Māori who wish to undertake graduate studies in business. More information will be provided in due course.
The Foundation sponsors participation by Māori in leadership programmes on an ad hoc basis. This support is generally dependent on co-sponsorship by partner organisations. We advertise and promote sponshorship opportunities as and when they arise - if you or your organisation are interested in co-sponsorship, please get in touch.
Whāia e koe te iti kahurangi - ki te tūoho koe, me maunga teitei.