Sir Hugh
Kawharu Foundation
The Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation is a charitable trust that provides scholarships and awards to Māori students and scholars who aspire to leadership.
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Sally Akevai Nicholas and Jesse Koka’ua
Waka Kuaka Sir Hugh Kawharu Annual Writing Prize 2025
At the 2025 Nayacakalou Medal lecture held by the Polynesian Society on 25 September 2025, we were fortunate to present the Sir Hugh Kawharu Annual Writing Prize to Sally Akevai Nicholas and Jesse Koka'ua for their article published in the March 2025 issue of the Waka Kuaka journal titled Linguicide and the Realm of New Zealand. This paper demonstrates the purpose of this award, displaying originality of thought and the potential for positive impact on communities. It also demonstrates excellent research and writing. As part of this award and as a reflection of the generosity of the Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation, the Polynesian Society is also making the paper open access so everyone who wants to read it has access.
About us
The Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation is a charitable trust established to advance and support Māori leadership. The Foundation is named after Sir Hugh Kawharu (1927-2006), who made significant contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand society throughout his lifetime.
The Foundation provides scholarships and awards for Māori tertiary students and scholars who aspire to leadership. The Foundation's commitment to supporting education is an important step towards building a more inclusive and equitable future for all New Zealanders.
Sir Hugh Kawharu speaking at the opening of Waipapa Marae, University of Auckland in 1988. (Professor Hugh Kawharu by Maureen Launder, Anthropology Photographic Archive, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0.)
The Foundation continues Sir Hugh's legacy by supporting tauira Māori to make a positive impact on their communities and wider society.