– I am a seed born of Greatness”.

The annual GHA scholarships are awarded to exceptional recipients who demonstrate a commitment to advancing the interests of iwi and Māori in their chosen careers. Financial support through the scholarship is provided to advance their tertiary studies.

Five successful applicants have been awarded scholarships to the value of $3,000 each for study in 2024.

The five recipients are:

1. Arahia Koia
2. Caleb Te Whare
3. Megan Latu
4. Miles Tapsell and
5. Taawera Hana Samuels – Kaio

A brief bio supplied by each of the recipients is provided below:

Arahia Koia

In 2023 Arahia capped off her secondary schooling as Te Kura o Te Koutu’s Head Girl by achieving her NCEA Level 3 (achieved with excellence). Fluent in Te Reo Māori, she was also a 2023 recipient of the Rotorua Young Achiever’s award. Many whanau are struggling to make ends meet. Some are living in their cars. Arahia is determined to see these whanau released from the grip of economic hardship. She believes the key to achieving this is to build a thriving Māori economy which is why she has decided to pursue batchelors degrees in commerce and law through the Auckland University’s five-year BCom / LLB conjoint programme. Arahia’s intentions post-graduation is to pursue a career as a business consultant specialising in commercial law. She aims to apply her tertiary training and leadership ability to influence transformational change to accelerate Māori corporate success for the betterment of all New Zealanders.

Caleb Te Whare

I te taha o tōku papa
Ko Whakapoungakau te pae maunga, ko Pukepoto te tihi, ko Waingaehe te awa, ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngati Te Roro-o-te-Rangi-te hapu, ko Uenukukopako te tangata, ko Tutanekai rāua ko Hinemoa te Tupuna whare
Ko Owhata te marae

I te taha o tōku mama
Ko Aoraki te maunga, ko Kati Huirapa te hapu, ko Puketeraki te Marae
Ko Caleb Te Whare tōku ingoa

I’m in my second year of my Bachelor of Accounting Degree through Toi Ohomai. My goal is to graduate and become a chartered accountant, hopefully going on to work for a Māori organization. I want to use my skills and knowledge to ultimately benefit my family, hapu, and iwi.

Megan Latu

My name is Mega Latu and I am in my second year of studies at the University of Otago, studying an Bachelor of Commerce, Majoring in Accounting. I am a proud Māori and of Pacific descent, from Ngapuhi and Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto. My journey in the field of business has been inspired by a deep-rooted commitment to the kaupapa-Māori values and a vision to enhance Māori representation in the accounting profession. I have enjoyed studying accounting and seek to further my careet as a Chartered Accountant, following the completion of studies. It is a privilege to represent my culture in my professional and academic journey, and hope to influence prospective business Māori students to pursue accounting.

Miles Tapsell

Ko Te Arawa te waka

Ko Ngati Whakaue me Ngati Pikiao nga iwi

Ko Te Papaiouru te marae

Ko Tamatekapua te tangata

Ko Miles Te Pokiha Pekamu Te Tupara Tapsell ahau

As Co-President of Te Mana Pakihi (The Māori Commerce Students’ Association) and Māori Lead of the Investment Club at the University of Auckland, this year is about my commitment to increasing Māori engagement in the corporate sectors. In terms of my own career goals, I am aiming for a career in Investment Banking – a sector which is predominantly non-Māori but has had some Māori pioneers pave a way for aspiring rangatahi. Support systems such as this scholarship ensure that Māori tauira such as myself are equipped with the necessary resources to excel in increasingly competitive environments – a huge thank you to Glenn and the team at GHA for their support.

Taawera Hana – Samuels Kaio

I am currently in my second year studying for a Bachelor’s in Business, at Auckland University of Technology. I am majoring in International Business with a minor in Māori Indigenous Business and Information Systems. Thanks to GHA, I am honoured to be one of five recipients for the 2024 Business Scholarship.

I have thoroughly enjoyed delving back into the world of education with the support of first-hand experience I had garnered over the years. Upon graduation I hope to embark on my journey as a business professional within the Māori Health and Fisheries sector. From this I intend on progressing to become a business consultant, specifically working alongside and for other Māori owned businesses. My passion is with people, and I have made a commitment to making a meaningful contribution towards the prosperity and well-being of our Māori people.

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.

The annual GHA scholarships were awarded to six 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 six applications were received and applicants granted the annual GHA scholarship for study in 2023.

The Partners presented scholarships to the value of $2,500 each to Connor Haar, Mahinaarangi Cooper, Manaia Hapi, Olivia Bell, Te Ao Leach and Te Horowai Mapapalangi.

Connor Haar

Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Mahuta, Waikato Tainui

 

Connor will complete his Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in accounting, at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, The University of Waikato, in 2022. Connor intends to apply his qualification for the betterment of society and to work alongside Māori businesses and organisations. Connor is interested in the international business space and sees great potential with international collaborations between indigenous peoples. He looks forward to seeing greater integration of indigenous knowledge into international trade, business practice and in the workspace.

 

Mahinaarangi Cooper

Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Whāwhākia, Ngāti Rora, Waikato

 

Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Hoturoa te tangata
Ko Manga-o-Kewa me Waikato ngā awa
Ko Rangitoto ki Tūhua me Taupiri ngā paemaunga
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto me Waikato ngā iwi
Ko Ngāti Rora me Ngāti Whāwhākia ngā hapū
Ko Te Kūiti te Pā
Ko Tūrangawaewae te Marae
Ko te Tokanganui-a-noho me Mahinaarangi ngā Whare Tupuna
Ko Terry Taane rāua ko Jan Cooper ōku mātua
Ko Mahinaarangi tōku ingoa.

Mahinaarangi is in her final year of tertiary education at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, The University of Waikato, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Management with a major in marketing and minors in strategic management and Māori and indigenous studies. Through her mahi, her ambitions and aspirations, she plans to use her enthusiasm for business and cultural studies to improve outcomes for Māori.

Mahinaarangi looks forward to inspiring rangatahi to believe that anything is possible and to lead the next generation.

Manaia Hapi

Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara, Ngāti Haka, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tūhoe

 

Manaia is currently studying to complete his Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting and human relations at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University in Wellington.

Manaia looks forward to using his qualifications and skills to support and help his community, iwi, hapū and whānau in the future.

Olivia Bell

Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Rehia

 

Olivia is from Kerikeri and is currently completing her studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou, The University of Otago, majoring in Accounting and Finance. The combination of the two majors she believes is a fundamental foundation to any business that desires success. Olivia is hardworking, driven, stubborn and values the steps for success in any venture, personal or professional. Her approach into her next chapter is one of new beginnings, growth, wisdom and the appreciation of new people and mentors. Olivia looks forward to her continued studies at University of Otago to attain all the necessary skills and expertise to begin a fruitful career.

Te Ao Leach

Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Kuri Kino, Ngāti Konohi, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou

 

Ko Ngongotahā te maunga
Ko Rotorua nui a Kahumatamomoe te moana
Ko Te Arawa te Waka
Ko Ngāti Whakaue te iwi
Ko Ngāti Tūnohopū te hapū
Ko Tina Leach tōku Māmā
Ki te taha hoki o tōku Māmā, nō Ngāti Pikiao, nō Ngati Rangiwewehi , nō Tūhoe anō hoki ahau.
Ko Pukehapopo te maunga
Ko Waiomoko te awa Ko Tereanini te waka
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi Ko Ngāti Konohi te hapū
Ko Randal Leach tōku Pāpā Ko Te Ao Kahurangi Leach tēnei e mihi ana.

Te Ao is currently completing her fourth year conjoint Bachelor in Commerce and Law at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland. She is currently Secretary of the Māori Students Association as well as the co-president of the Māori Business Students association at the university this year. Te Ao also attended Rotorua Girls’ High School where she was named dux and deputy head girl in her final year.

Te Ao is a proud descendant of Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou and Tūhoe and her biggest aspiration is to bring her skills that she learnt from University and help her iwi to try and correct injustices Māori experience within the justice system.

Te Horowai Mapapalangi

Ngāti Te Rangi Waho, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Whare, Te Aitanga-a-hauiti

 

Ko Te Horowai Mapapalangi tōku ingoa, me te aha, he tuhanga tonu ahau nō Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Whare, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti me ngā moutere o Tonga, ka mutu he hononga whakapapa tōku kai tēnā iwi, kai tēnā hapū o roto mai o Te Arawa waka. Tēnei tonu ahau e ōati nei i aku kupu whakamiha ki a tātou katoa. Ka tau!

With a keen interest in business, economics, and politics, Te Horowai is currently undertaking a conjoint degree in arts and commerce at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, with a focus on economics, Māori, politics, and international relations. Te Horowai applied for the GHA scholarship to assist with the financial demands of pursuing tertiary education away from home, coming from a large whānau with six siblings, he is proud to be the first to attend university. To be a recipient of this scholarship has helped him transition from kura to the courses and career disciplines he wishes to pursue in the coming years and will help to ensure his studies will be a success.