$3000 scholarships for tertiary education, research

Eight $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.

Council chair Penny Smart says nominations for the council’s ‘Tu i te ora Scholarship’ will open on Monday, December 14 and run until Sunday, February 14, 2021.

Worth $3000 each, the annual scholarships were offered for the first time last year to 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 four of the eight scholarships available earmarked for Maori who whakapapa to Te Taitokerau.

Chair Smart says while four scholarships had been offered in 2019, that had doubled to eight this year, a one-off boost made possible by redirecting unspent money from other awards.

Community outcomes the council is trying to achieve through the scholarships include:

· Continuous improvement in water quality and security of supply

· Enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and biosecurity

· A strong regional economy

· Safe and resilient communities

· Enduring relationships with tangata whenua

· Efficient and effective land transport policies

“The benefits of the scholarships themselves are quite broad and include raising students’ environmental awareness and understanding, encouraging Matauranga Maori research and education, as well as promoting leadership and innovation,” says Smart.

“They also hopefully provide a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions in Northland and encourage people into careers related to council activities.”

Councillors say the awards can also help provide financial support to students experiencing financial hardship and difficulties.

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who live in Northland (or have family that does) or who whakapapa to Te Taitokerau.

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.

Full eligibility criteria and application forms are available from nrc.govt.nz/scholarship. All applications and supporting documentation need to be with council by Sunday February 14, 2021.

Once the nomination period closes in mid-February, a selection panel from the council’s Community Engagement, Environmental Services and Maori Engagement teams will review them.

“They also hopefully provide a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions in Northland.”