The potential of Kaitaia College graduates Manurereau (Manu) Allen and Fraser MacLeod has been recognised by the University of Otago, which has awarded them scholarships to further their personal ambitions.
Manu has received not one accolade but two. In her final year at Kaitaia College (2012) she won a scholarship to enter the 2013 T Kahika Health Sciences programme, which supports Mori students through a foundation year in Dunedin, preparing them for the university's Health Sciences First Year (HSFY).
This year she received a $10,000 University of Otago Mori and Pacific Island Scholarship, which, as with T Kahika, assists with accommodation and tuition fee costs.
"I feel like I definitely have an advantage over a lot of other HSFY students, because T Kahika set me up, so I knew how lectures run. I got used to managing my time and study," Manu said.
"I also had a chance to get over my homesickness and being far away from home. I got to build a solid base of friends, and with the T Kahika mentors it was pretty much like having another family. I came back to Otago this year because of the fun and warm-spirited student life."
Fraser has received a $5000 University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, recognising the potential shown by his academic success, his involvement in drama, school musical soirees and a talent quest, and his representation of Kaitaia College at United Nations Assemblies in Auckland in 2011 and 2012. His record of volunteer work also helped, including assisting with child literacy events and playing the piano at Kaitaia rest home Switzer Residential Care.
Fraser enrolled at Otago this year to begin a double degree focused on microbiology genetics, Chinese and psychology, but has since chosen to enter the university's medical laboratory professional course, joining Manu on a health sciences path.
The breadth of courses on offer at Otago was part of the attraction.
"The subjects at Otago are more what I wanted to do," he said.
"Most people I knew were going to Auckland, but I thought Otago would be the better experience because it was further away and something new.
"I'm really glad I chose to come down here. I have found the city easy to adapt to and it's not too large. The work hasn't been as daunting as I expected it to be it's quite enjoyable."
Part of that enjoyment stemmed from living at Aquinas College, one of 15 residential colleges on or near the campus, each offering support and care in its own unique style.
"I came down to Dunedin to have a look around last year, and Aquinas was the one I liked the most," Fraser added.
"It's a 20-minute walk from the campus and it's small, it feels like it has a closer community than a large college. Aquinas offers academic support too, with tutors coming up to us. I quickly found a new group of close friends down here as well."
Manu said she had enjoyed living at Studholme College residence, which also offered plenty of support and activities, during her Tu Kahika year, but this year she had decided to go flatting.
"It's cheaper," she said, "but I wouldn't have been brave enough to do it without my sister Natalie. She is doing HSFY as well. We're supporting each other through the year.
"It is a bit crazy doing HSFY. It's a lot of work. The content of the papers is okay, it's just so jam-packed. It's keeping me on my toes.
"My ultimate goal is to work in health, but at the moment I don't really know what area. Health sciences are really broad you can go on from HSFY to study Otago's courses in dentistry, medical laboratory science, medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy and more. I think I would like to go into surgical medicine. I'm not very squeamish. It has been interesting dealing with plasticised human parts this year."
Both Manu and Fraser advise students wanting to go to Otago to try for its scholarships.
"Apply for everything," Manu said.
"Make sure every application is high-quality. Get good references, and know that a little bit of experience goes along way."
"Kaitaia College is really good at preparing you," Fraser added.
"If you're coming to Otago for the health sciences, concentrate on chemistry, physics, biology and maths. Don't be too stressed, just put in enough work and you'll get there."