Application deadline soon for $3000 NRC scholarships

Four new $3000 scholarships are being offered to support students studying or training in areas aligned to work the Northland Regional Council does in the environmental, economic or community resilience fields.

Nominations for the council’s inaugural Tu i te ora Scholarship opened December 14 and will run until February 14 2020.

Worth $3000 each, the previous council had made the decision to provide scholarships during a review of its Long Term Plan.

The scholarships will recognise and support students whose efforts reflect the regional council’s key drivers and its mission of ‘working together to create a healthy environment, strong economy and resilient communities’.

They also aim to build Maori capacity within Te Taitokerau and provide opportunities for further education, with two earmarked for Maori who share a genealogical connection to Te Taitokerau.

Community outcomes the council is trying to achieve include water quality and security of supply, enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and biosecurity, a strong regional economy and communities, enduring relationships with tangata whenua, and efficient and effective land transport policies.

As well as providing financial support, Councillors hope the scholarships will also provide a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions in Northland and encourage people into careers related to council activities.

Among the criteria for would-be applicants are that they are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who live in Northland (or have family that does) or who have whakapapa to Te Taitokerau and Northland Regional Council’s operational boundaries.

They must also be enrolled (or have an intention to enrol) in a recognised tertiary course of study that directly relates to activities that council delivers and be studying at an undergraduate or higher qualification level.

n Full eligibility criteria and application forms are available from nrc.govt.nz/scholarship.