“Poipoia te kākano kia puawai – nurture the seed and it will blossom”.
The annual GHA scholarships were awarded to four exceptional recipients who will benefit from the financial support provided. Our Māori talent will be nurtured and encouraged to contribute to kaupapa Māori organisations and their iwi.
A total of four applications were received and applicants granted the annual GHA scholarship for study in 2023.
The Partners presented scholarships to the value of $3,750 each to Jade Foote, Manaia Rapana-Feather, Matiu Rei and Melissa Gebert.
Jade Foote
Ngāti Whakaue
Jade is now studying in her second year at the University of Otago. She aims to complete her Law and Commerce degrees in 2026. Jade is a proud descendant of Te Arawa, Ngati Whakaue and aspires to use her degrees to work along side Māori business’ in New Zealand. Jade looks forward to her continued business studies at the University of Otago to attain her skills and qualifications and use them to support her iwi and hapu in the future.
Manaia Rapana-Feather
Te Arawa Whānui, Waikato-Tainui
Manaia is completing her second year of studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury. Manaia enjoys cooperating alongside people and is a true team player. She is studying a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Human Resource Management.
Manaia wishes to encourage rangatahi to get involved within the business sector so together they can enhance the representation of Māori. Once Manaia has graduated she hopes to use the skills she has obtained to give back to her people in the foreseen future.
Matiu Rei
Te Arawa, Tokomaru, Taranaki Maunga
He tuhanga tonu tēnei o Te Arawa waka me ōna karangatanga hapū a Ngāti Pūkākī o Ngāti Whakaue, a Ngāti Wāhiao o Tūhourangi me Ngāti Hinemihi o Ngāti Tarawhai. He uri hoki o Te Pahipoto o Ngāti Awa me Ngāti Kimihia o Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Ka mutu, he kohatu hoki i taka mai i te Maunga Titohea me ōna iwi, hapū a Kaitangata o Ngāti Mutunga, a Ngāti Tama, a Ngāti Kopu o Ngāti Maruwharanui, a Ngāti Rahiri o Te Atiawa, a Ngāti Haupoto o Taranaki Iwi me Ngāti Tū o Ngāruahine.
I am progressing into my second year at the University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau studying/majoring in economics and computer science. I am interested in programming and want to bring the skills I will learn to help my iwi, hapū and whānau. I also think that an understanding of production, distribution and consumption of products and services and the transfer of wealth – economics will be valuable to iwi and hapū as they navigate people, business, markets and governments.
Melissa Gebert
Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhoe
My whanau and I live in sunny Opotiki, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and lovely people. For the last 17 years I co-owned an Agricultural Contracting business in conjunction with our Share/Contract milking Jobs. ‘Hands on’ experience revealed an interest in both accounting and finance, creating a desire to learn more.
Recently I made a personally significant decision to embark on educating myself. In 2022 I completed a Diploma in Business, accounting strand, through Toi Ohomai Whakatane. The learnings have solidified my current knowledge while introducing me to new ideas and concepts. I have now enrolled in the Bachelor of Business, through Waikato University in Tauranga, majoring in Accounting and Finance, I look forward to commencing on 27 February 2023.
It is my intention to become a Chartered Accountant, with the hope of making a meaningful difference in people’s life’s; I understand the obstacles in business coming from a family with no prior business knowledge. I also understand the real-life pressures of small business ownership. It would be a privilege to help and guide our people, especially our rangatahi, who keenly enter the business world, with so much enthusiasm and energy, as I once did.
I am truly grateful to have been chosen as a scholarship recipient. “The essence of life is growth” and I sincerely thank you for the aid in my journey of growth.
