KateriinaSelwyn

Te Arawa, Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi2015 Tāwera Scholarship Recipient

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KateriinaSelwyn

Te Arawa, Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi2015 Tāwera Scholarship Recipient

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I am the Māori Sector Manager at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and am seconded from GHA in Rotorua where I hold a position as a Management Consultant. I was awarded the Tāwera scholarship in 2015 on behalf of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust whilst in my final year of study towards a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), majoring in Marketing at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato (The University of Waikato). The Tāwera scholarship is designed to help address Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust’s strategic focus of lifting the level of Māori participation in middle and senior management capability in a range of industries. My academic goal at the time of my studies was to complete my degree and use the knowledge and skills gained through university to secure employment back in my hometown, Rotorua. Once my studies were complete, I managed to attain employment at GHA in Rotorua, a kaupapa Māori Chartered Accounting and Management Consulting firm as a Management Consultant. I achieved what I set out to do, which was to gain as many skills as I could and return home to use those skills to help my whānau, hapū and iwi. I received huge support from my iwi including education grants and this was a major driving force behind my aspiration to finish my studies. Receiving the Tāwera scholarship also provided a great deal of support, not only contributing to my study fees, but the scholarship allowed me to connect with a group of other Māori students based at tertiary institutions all over New Zealand. Through the Tāwera scholarship, I was also given the opportunity to attend Ngā Whetū Hei Whai: Charting Māori Industry Futures Conference. Being a recipient of the Tāwera scholarship made me very proud and gave me insight to the great things others are doing to better the overall well-being of Māori in New Zealand. This contributed to my academic / career goal of using my degree to help Māori and I have been fortunate enough to do this both in my role as a Management Consultant at GHA and as the Māori Sector Manager at CA ANZ. I would highly recommend students apply for scholarships offered by the Māori Education Trust. I am aware the scholarships they offer are open to students from Year 9 (secondary school) to those undertaking postgraduate study.

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