Toihoukura Associate Professor Steve Gibbs with Dr Jack Richards and honours student Catherine August, Kaaterina Kerekere, Melanie Tangaere-Baldwin and Melanie Tahata at Tairawhiti Museum. Picture supplied
SCHOLARSHIPS: Arts patron Dr Jack Richards (second left) continued his support of EIT Maori art and design scholars this week with scholarship for four Toihoukura post graduate students towards their masterate studies. The four students were Catherine August (third left), Kaaterina Kerekere, Melanie Tangaere-Baldwin and Melanie Tahata. Their work features
in Toihoukura’s Hawaiiki Hou exhibition at the Tairawhiti Museum over the summer.
Toihoukura associate professor Steve Gibbs (left) commended the students on their work and thanked Dr Richards for his continuing support of the school. This is Toihoukura 25th year and Dr Richards has given financial assistance to students for 24 of those years.
Dr Richards said his association with Toihoukura had started by chance during a trip home when he was still based in Hong Kong. After a conversation with former Toihoukura tutor Sandy Adsett, he agreed to help support the students in some way. Since then he had enjoyed seeing the work of Toihoukura students mature and diversify over the years.
