Far North scholarship winner aims to bring legal and accounting skills home

Far North student Jazmine Murray is studying business and law at Waikato.

The Far North has no shortage of hardworking people, but access to legal and financial advice can be limited.

This is something 2025 PKF Stewart Russell Scholarship recipient Jazmine Murray hopes to make a difference in.

As a teenager in Broadwood, she watched her community work hard with few resources and specialists to call on. Now those observations are driving her through two demanding degrees.

She is currently completing her final year at the University of Waikato, studying for a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and a Bachelor of Laws. Her ambition is to become both a qualified lawyer and a Chartered Accountant, bringing her skills back to the Far North to strengthen local businesses and create opportunities for future generations.

The PKF Stewart Russell scholarship honours the legacy of the firm’s late director and community champion, Stewart Russell, who died suddenly in 2024.

The scholarship supports a Far North resident pursuing tertiary studies in accountancy or business, with the goal of growing and empowering emerging talent in our local community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the local community, over $10,000 was raised through a fundraiser event earlier this year to make this goal possible.

Murray said she combined the two degrees as businesses and individuals often face issues that involve both areas and understanding only one side can sometimes limit the solutions available.

She said the Far North has a lot of potential, with hardworking people and businesses that bring a lot of value to their communities.

“Some local enterprises have the capability to expand or strengthen what they do but may not know where to start with things like compliance, planning, financial strategy, or long-term decision-making.

“My hope is to be someone who can offer clear, approachable guidance that helps ease those pressures and gives people confidence in their next steps, whether big or small.”

Having grown up on a beef farm, she has a strong connection to agriculture but said she is open to working with industries she is not familiar with.

‘Every sector has its own systems and challenges, and I’d like to be adaptable rather than limit myself. A mentor once told me that growth comes from stepping outside of what you already know, and that advice has stayed with me.”

She said it was a huge honour to have been selected for the scholarship, particularly because it recognised someone who contributed to the Far North.

“It feels like a supportive hand guiding me into the next phase of my career … the support means I can put more energy into being present in my studies and maintaining balance, rather than worrying about making ends meet. Having that security heading into my final year allows me to give my best effort academically without feeling stretched in too many directions.”

To secure funds for the next scholarship, PKF Far North will host a Trivia Night on January 30, 2026. The firm is currently seeking donations of items, products, services, or experiences for raffles and auctions. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference. If you can help, please contact: 09 408 9366l; kaitaia@pkffn.co.nz