Memorial Scholarships

Māori Battalion! March to victory!
Māori Battalion! Staunch and true!
Māori Battalion! March to glory
Take the honour of the people with you ...

Background

In 1939, when New Zealand joined forces with the allies, Māori men and women volunteered and made a significant contribution in all areas of the defence forces and home services. Notable among them were the recruits who formed the 28th (Māori) Battalion. They fought with distinction in many engagements and perhaps the soldier whose deeds are best known among Māori is Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu, whose heroism and ultimate sacrifice were acknowledged by the highest military award the British Commonwealth could bestow: the Victoria Cross.

In June 1943, soon after Ngārimu had been killed in action, a gathering of Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā Apanui and Pākehā East Coast people took place to consider how to best commemorate the bravery of Ngārimu, and the other members of the 28th Battalion, whose lives had been lost in World War Two. It was decided to establish a scholarship fund to support Māori education. The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Scholarship Fund Board was established for the purposes of administering funds that promoted Māori education.

Originally the Board considered the most urgent priority was to encourage Māori pupils at secondary school level and scholarships were awarded annually to pupils in Form II. However since 1971 the Board's focus has been at the tertiary level with academic merit being a high priority in the selection.

Ake ake kia kaha e!

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About the Scholarships

A total of six scholarships are available made up of:

• three Undergraduate Awards valued at $10,000 each per year. Financial support is provided for up to five years depending on the term of study;
• one Masters Award valued at $15,000 per year. Financial support is provided for up to two years of study;
• one Doctoral Scholarship valued at $25,000 per year. Financial support is provided for up to two years of study; and
• one Manakura Scholarship valued at $30,000. Financial assistance for one year.

The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board are looking for applicants who meet the criteria and possess characteristics that are considered consistent with those of the 28th Māori Battalion.

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Selection criteria

All applicants must be:

• New Zealand Māori;
• studying at a registered New Zealand tertiary institution or at an overseas tertiary institution that meets its own country's accreditation requirements. This is not necessary for Manakura scholarship applicants only;
• able to show characteristics of the ideal applicant as detailed in the application form;
• able to describe their contribution to whānau, hapū or iwi following successful completion of their study; and
• agree to present milestone reports to the Ngārimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Board.

Additionally, Masters, Doctoral and Manakura applicants must:

• be able to show the link between Māori and the outcome or benefit of their study or work. The applicant needs to share their passion for their chosen area of study with the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Board;
• submit a brief about their study or field. This brief will be assessed against the criteria listed under Characteristics of the ideal applicant (see below); and
• describe their contribution to whānau, hapū or iwi following successful completion of their study.

All the relevant sections of the application form must be completed and received by our office no later than 31 July 2009. No incomplete or late applications will be considered.

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Characteristics of the ideal applicant

Applicants can show characteristics similar to those considered consistent with the 28th Māori Battalion:

• Te āo Māori me te āo Pākehā (an ability to walk in both Māori and non Māori worlds);
• Kawa ngā tikanga me te reo;
• Rangatiratanga;
• Whānaungatanga;
• Manaakitanga;
• Whakaritenga;
• Te Wero;
• Mātauranga (does not apply to Manakura applicants); and
• Pou Amorangi (for Manakura applicants only)

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Selection process

You must use the current application form with section 4(1) provided on a separate sheet(s) using clear headings. The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board will short list all applicants. Short-listed applicants for the Masters, Doctoral and Manakura Scholarships will be invited to an interview.

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Selection timeline

Applications must be submitted by no later than 31 July 2009 to:

Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund
Group Māori
Ministry of Education
PO Box 1666
Wellington 6140
Phone 04 463 8957
Email ngarimu.scholarship@minedu.govt.nz

All applications will be acknowledged by 21 August 2009 and short-listed applicants for the Masters, Doctoral and Manakura scholarships will be invited to an interview to be held on 22 and 23 September 2009. All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by 6 November 2009.

The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board's decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

The Ngārimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board's decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.