Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust

Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of our new Chairman Marc Figgins, Ngāpuhi. Marc is currently the General Manager of Human Resources and Communications at Westpac NZ. He will bring invaluable expertise and experience to the role of Chair, combined with a passion to support the aspirations of the Trust.   Marc says: “I feel honoured to have been appointed as Chair of Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust. The work the Trust has done to advance the ambitions of Māori tauira over the past 31 years has been really meaningful and I’m looking forward to continuing this mahi.”    Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust would like to thank outgoing Chair Tania O'Brien for the unwavering tautoko and contribution over the last three years. In particular, Tania’s leadership of our recent 30-year anniversary milestone.   Mā te huruhuru, ka rere te manu. Adorn the bird with feathers and it will fly. Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Santana Maihi Steve Atkinson Melanie Ilich

Meet Whakatane’s Maia Kupai-Ashby (Ngāti Awa), one of the recipients of this year's Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust scholarships. Maia's 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.” Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Marc Figgins Melanie Ilich The University of Auckland Sarah Wall Santana Maihi Melanie Roberts

Congratulations to Kody Ward (Taranaki and Ngāti Maniapoto), who is one of the recipients of this year's Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust scholarships. Kody is originally from Hastings and 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.”  Mīharo Kody! Marc Figgins Melanie Ilich Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Steve Atkinson Sarah Wall Amber Campbell

The 2025 recipients of Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust’s scholarships, administered by Westpac New Zealand, have been announced. Ka mau te wehi ngā tauira ma! The recipients are Eruera Delamere-Heap, Taiawa Edwards, Reia Harrison, Maia Kupai-Ashby, Xavier Mihaere, Julia Newman Ngamahi Reihana and Kody Ward.    Kei ōu ringaringa te ao – the world is yours.    Each of the recipients receives $5,000 towards their tertiary study costs. We’ll share their profiles over the next few months, so keep an eye out to learn more about these amazing individuals.     For more information about Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gWGymYNN #TogetherGreater Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Steve Atkinson Marc Figgins Melanie Ilich Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Santana Maihi Sarah Wall Michelle Huang Catherine McGrath Tracey Walker Reuben Tucker Sarah Williams Nileema Allerston Kody Ward

Kia tere! Applications for the 2025 Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust scholarships are closing soon.   Administered by Westpac New Zealand, the scholarships support Māori students in at least their second year of a business or banking and finance-related degree with $5,000 towards their tertiary costs.   Johannah Kātene-Burge, People & Capability at Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Incorporated, received a Te Waiu o Aotearoa scholarship in 2017. She says it’s important for Māori students to think about the networks they want to build.   “You’re the only one with your mana and your whakapapa, and you carry that for your people. So it is only right that you put yourself forward.”   Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 13 October. For more information and to apply visit westpac.co.nz/scholarship Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Tania O'Brien Clare Montgomerie steve atkinson Tracey Walker Santana Maihi John Machell Merv Rowe Mark Sumner Noel Hassapladakis Annabelle Klap Sarah Hearn Marc Figgins Melanie Ilich Odessa To'o

We're into the last few weeks of applications for the 2025 Te Waiu o Aotearoa (TWOA) Trust scholarships - applications close Sunday 13 October! If you know a student of Māori descent who's in at least their second year of studying business or finance at tertiary level, encourage them to apply for one of the $5,000 TWOA Trust scholarships.   This year is the 30th year of the Trust and June McCabe, Founding Trustee, Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust, says it’s been an incredible journey.   “What I’m proud about is the trust continues on. So it’s 30 years old, doing good work for rangatahi, so they may get education and get opportunity in the finance sector.”   The Trust is administered by Westpac New Zealand. Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gBvd_wzD Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Tania O'Brien Clare Montgomerie steve atkinson Tracey Walker Santana Maihi John Machell Merv Rowe Mark Sumner Noel Hassapladakis Annabelle Klap Sarah Hearn Marc Figgins Melanie Ilich Odessa To'o

Applications for the 2025 Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust scholarships, administered by Westpac New Zealand, are now open. This is the 30th year of the scholarships, which support Māori students in at least their second year of a business or banking and finance-related degree with $5,000 towards their next year’s study costs.   Maringi Brown-Sadlier, Advisor, Stand Tū Maia, received a Te Waiu o Aotearoa scholarship in 2008. She says the scholarship was “hugely pivotal” and provided her with numerous opportunities.   “In some ways, I feel I’m just living the dream that my ancestors had for me, in terms of doing this work.” Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gBvd_wzD Tania O'Brien Clare Montgomerie Tracey Walker steve atkinson Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Santana Maihi John Machell Merv Rowe Mark Sumner Noel Hassapladakis Annabelle Klap

Applications for the 2025 Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust scholarships are currently open. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Trust, which supports Māori students in at least their second year of a business or banking and finance-related degree with a $5,000 scholarship towards their tertiary costs. Tana Luke, Māori Strategy Manager, Fonterra, received a Te Waiu o Aotearoa scholarship in 2014. He says his whānau has always spoken to him about realising the aspirations of his tūpuna (ancestors). “I’d really encourage whānau to go out and apply for this scholarship. I guess what stuck with me is the feeling of being backed and believed in.” The Trust is administered by Westpac NZ and applications for 2025 close on 13 October 2024. For more information and to apply visit westpac.co.nz/scholarship Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani Tania O'Brien steve atkinson Clare Montgomerie Santana Maihi Charlotte Sangster Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Reuben Tucker Tracey Walker Merv Rowe Annabelle Klap Haemia Melling

Rangā ngā whenua onamata hei tohu anamata – weaving the strands of the past to signpost the future. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust. And what better way to celebrate than through the themes of Matariki – remembering those who have gone before, celebrating the present, and looking to the future. Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust was established in 1994 in partnership with Māori and Iwi entities to promote, develop and provide for the education and advancement of Māori in the business, banking and finance industries. To celebrate this milestone, we connected with a past Trustee and recipients of the Trust’s scholarships to reflect on why the Trust was established and its enduring partnership with Westpac. A massive thank you to June McCabe, Tana Luke, Johannah Kātene-Burge and Maringi Brown-Sadlier. Part of that history is the pou Tāne-nui-ā-rangi, which is featured in the video and was given to the Trust and Westpac from the founder of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Rongo Wetere. It was gifted both as a challenge and as a reminder of the importance of education for Māori. It now has pride of place in Westpac’s Wellington office - Hapori Pōneke. 30 years on, the Trust has supported many students who have gone on to successful careers across all sectors, both locally and globally. The Trust is administered by Westpac New Zealand Limited and applications for the 2025 Te Waiu o Aotearoa Trust Scholarships are now open. For more information and to apply visit: westpac.co.nz/scholarship Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu – adorn the bird with feathers so it may soar – Mauri Ora!! Tania O'Brien Fonteyn Moses - Te Kani steve atkinson Clare Montgomerie Nicole Langford (nee Williams) Santana Maihi

Congratulations to Breigh Lawson-Stanley, Ngāi Tahu, who is one of the recipients of this year's Te Waiu O Aotearoa Trust Scholarships. Breigh is currently studying for a Master of Laws (LLM) at The University of Canterbury. Growing up in rural Southland, she became interested in law after an intermediate school trip to the Invercargill District Court. “I just thought, oh my gosh this is great – I went home and said, I’m going to be a judge.” That conviction saw her go on to undertake an LLB at the University of Canterbury, and to then pursue her interest in biosecurity through her Masters degree, which is focusing on the extent to which Aotearoa’s current biosecurity framework considers mātauranga and tikanga in the decision-making process. While at university, Breigh spent a year working as an intern with Ngāi Tahu’s Whai Rawa savings scheme, which she says was a fantastic experience. Breigh plans to carve out a career in corporate law while continuing to pursue her interests in biosecurity, financial markets and ESG. Mīharo Breigh!