The 2025 recipients of Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust's scholarships, administered by Westpac NZ, have been announced.
One of the trustees overseeing the scholarships, Westpac NZ Poutiaki, Director Māori Strategy and Indigenous Inclusion Fonteyn Moses-Te Kani, says this year the decision was made to increase the number of scholarships awarded from four to eight, to celebrate the 31 years of partnership between Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust and Westpac NZ.
"We had such great candidates it was difficult to choose our winners, so I'm thrilled we're able to recognise eight individuals this year," Ms Moses-Te Kani says.
"The scholarships have been awarded to very talented people who are committed to being of service to their communities. The whakataukī 'Kei ōu ringaringa te ao - the world is yours' seems like a great reflection of this year's recipients."
Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust was established in 1994 as an independent entity working to promote, develop and provide for the education, advancement and employment opportunities of students of Māori descent.
As a partner, Westpac NZ has administered the Trust for the 31 years since its establishment.
Each year, the Trust awards recipients each a $5,000 grant to help with costs associated with their studies.
Applications for the 2026 scholarships will open during Matariki 2025.
The 2025 Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust scholarship recipients are:
ERUERA DELAMERE-HEAP
A desire to influence positive change motivates Whanganui's Eruera Delamere-Heap (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Raukawa and Whakatōhea), who's entering his third year of a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Auckland (majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation). "I want to learn about how the economy works and how businesses run so that eventually I can create my own business and support whatever community I'm in," he says. Eruera's already a keen supporter of the country's roller hockey community - he coaches an under 19s team as well as teaching learn to skate classes and in 2023 travelled to China and Macau to represent New Zealand in the sport. He says receiving a TWOA scholarship will help him to achieve his goals. "It was wonderful to hear I was a winner - I wasn't expecting it."
TAIAWA EDWARDS
Taiawa Edwards (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai, Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri) is in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Auckland. He spent the first 10 years of his life living overseas while his father was working in different financial roles, before the family returned to their farm in Northland. "I've been inspired by my dad - seeing what he's done for our whānau, hapū and iwi... I'm keen to also contribute." Alongside his studies, over the past few years Taiawa has undertaken several internships at major banks. "It's been good to gain real world experiences while also applying what I've learned at university... and it's confirmed for me that I want to work in banking." He says he's grateful to have received a TWOA scholarship. "It means a lot to me."
REIA HARRISON
Gisborne's Reia Harrison (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata and Whakatōhea) is enjoying her studies at the University of Auckland, where she's in her third year of undertaking a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Māori studies). "I believe we don't have enough Māori lawyers... It helps to have someone representing you who looks like you and understands you," Reia says. Once she graduates Reia hopes to practise as a land court and/or corporate lawyer and says she hopes her studies will provide her with the knowledge and skills to, "contribute to the upliftment of my community and provide opportunities for future generations". And she's happy to have been awarded a 2025 TWOA scholarship. "It means getting more support to fund my education."
MAIA KUPAI-ASHBY
Whakatane's Maia Kupai-Ashby (Ngāti Awa) is now in her third year of a Bachelor of Commerce and Science (majoring in International Business and Psychology) at the University of Auckland. She says she finds fulfilment in supporting the communities around her, whether that's helping with different wānanga at her marae in Whakatane or volunteering with mentoring and pastoral care initiatives in Tāmaki Makaurau. "It fills me with happiness whenever I can make someone else's day, which can happen just by listening to other people's stories," she says. In the future, she hopes to undertake further studies in psychology and to ultimately practise as a clinical psychologist, with a particular focus on the needs of Māori. "My passion for supporting and uplifting indigenous communities stems from my upbringing in te ao Māori." Maia says she feels grateful to have been awarded a 2025 TWOA scholarship. "I was so surprised... it means I can focus on my studies more."
XAVIER MIHAERE
Xavier Mihaere (Ngāi Tai) is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Commerce and Science at the University of Otago, majoring in Accounting. Originally from Hamilton, Xavier had an action-packed first year down south and says he enjoyed the experience. "It was tough being away from home at first, but I made a lot of friends which really helped." When he's not studying, Xavier's a keen touch rugby player and a highlight of 2024 was a trip to Australia to represent New Zealand in the Under 18s team. While he's not yet sure what the future holds in terms of careers, he's interested in combining his interests of finance and sport in some way. And he says receiving one of the TWOA scholarships is a great help for the year ahead. "It will allow me to focus more on my studies and take some pressure off my family."
JULIA NEWMAN
Tauranga's Julia Newman (Ngātiwai and Ngāti Ranginui) will this year wrap up five years of studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in International Business with a Minor in Māori Studies) at the University of Otago. She says her time in Dunedin has been incredibly meaningful as alongside her studies, she's had the opportunity to engage with her whakapapa. "I always knew I was Māori but didn't really know much about my lineage. Going to university and meeting people who are so immersed in te ao Māori made me want to learn more. I've been learning te reo and being able to share some of what I'm learning with my whānau back home has been really special." Julia has spent the summer working for a Crown prosecutor and in the future is keen to combine her interests in law and business. "My studies have opened my eyes to so many different avenues." And she says she's grateful to be a 2025 TWOA scholarship recipient. "I feel very privileged that my application stood out."
NGAMAHI REIHANA
Levin's Ngamahi Reihana (Ngāti Tukorehe and Ngāti Kuia) is in her second year of undertaking a Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Alongside her studies, Ngamahi works as a rangatahi advocate at Muaūpoko Tribal Authority Social Services, coaches and manages representative netball teams, teaches hip hop dancing and is a busy parent to three children. "Our family has a big shared calendar!" she says. "And we have really strong communication in our whānau - I always let my kids know where I'll be and why I'm doing it." Ngamahi's studies are a continuation of her determination to have a positive impact on her community. "I want to uplift whānau and instil cultural pride." And she says she was thrilled to learn she had received a TWOA scholarship to support her studies. "It means so much and takes so much financial pressure off my whānau."
KODY WARD
Hastings's Kody Ward (Taranaki and Ngāti Maniapoto) says learning to speak te reo Māori through his studies at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington set him on a journey of discovery. "There's power in knowing who you are and where you come from," he says. And his own drive to learn more about his whakapapa has had a ripple effect. "My mum and sister have also now started their reo journeys... it's like a fire starting." Kody recently returned from six weeks in Taiwan as part of the Prime Minister's Scholarship Exchange programme, visiting with different tribes to learn about their culture and customs while also sharing insights from te ao Māori. He says the experience was "amazing". Now turning his focus to his PhD researching rangatahi Māori entrepreneurship, he says he's not yet sure what the future holds for him but he'll be happy, "As long as I'm doing something that helps people." And he says he was speechless when he learned he had received a TWOA scholarship. "I think the biggest thing for me is the extra support and the feeling that there are more people in my corner."
