Former Taipa Area School student Ezekiel Raui.
Four of the eight recipients of this year's Ngarimu scholarships have strong links with the Far North.
Maia Wikaira was one of three to be awarded master's scholarships, while Ezekiel Raui, Kaahu White and Tekiteora Rolleston-Gabel were amongst five undergraduates to be recognised.
Education Minister (and Ngarimu board chair) Hekia Parata, who presented the scholarships at Parliament last week, said the awards, which commemorated Victoria Cross recipient Second Lieutenant Te Moananui a Kiwa Ngarimu and the soldiers of the 28th Maori Battalion, recognised the exciting futures the eight "exceptional" recipients had ahead of them.
"They have already demonstrated what young Maori can achieve with hard work and dedication, and I look forward to seeing what more they accomplish in the future," Ms Parata said.
Scholarships are presented annually to students who demonstrate educational excellence and embody the characteristics of the Battalion, including commitment, service and leadership.
"To honour the soldiers' spirit and sacrifice we must ensure their legacy lives on in future generations, especially among tomorrow's Maori leaders. Like those young men who fought on distant shores, those receiving the awards are the high achievers, leaders among this generation of Maori and of New Zealand," Ms Parata added.
Undergraduate scholars receive $10,000 per year for up to five years, while Master's scholars receive $15,000 per year for up to two years.
Maia Wikaira (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa), currently lives in California, where she is studying towards a Master's in Environmental Law and Policy at Stanford University. Previously she worked as a lawyer at Kahui Legal for more than five years.
Ms Wikaira said chose to study environmental law and policy to achieve better water management outcomes for her whanau and iwi, her research focusing on challenging the current water allocation framework to empower iwi. Last year she presented at the World Indigenous Law Conference in California.
She believed strongly in empowering rangatahi, she added, and had taken on a tuakana role at home within her iwi, and in the USA for rangatahi visiting her university.
Ezekiel Raui (Te Rarawa ki Hokianga, Ngapuhi), who is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Studies degree at Massey University, said he strongly believed in leading by example in order to change the way people think and act.
The former Taipa Area School student has long been an advocate for improving rangatahi mental health by encouraging people to openly talk about their problems.
Under the mentoring of Kaitaia GP (and New Zealander of the Year 2014) he was chosen as a New Zealand representative at the White House Tribal Leaders' Gathering, hosted by President Barack Obama, in Washington DC in 2015.
Tekiteora Rolleston-Gabel (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Kahu, Ngai Te Rangi), who is pursuing Bachelor degrees in arts and science at Waikato University said te reo Maori was her first language.
The product of kura kaupapa Maori and wharekura, her kaupapa Maori education had greatly influenced her interpretation of science from a matauranga Maori perspective, and that understanding had enhanced her tertiary study.
She intended to continue her studies at Master's and PhD level, focusing on science and its correlation to matauranga Maori.
Kaahu White (Te Rarawa, Kai Tahu) is working towards Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts degrees at Otago University.
Passionate about te reo Maori, the former Northland College head girl and dux was continuing to pursue her goal of becoming fully fluent and confident, in part by tutoring two Maori language and culture papers at university.
An active member of the Maori Students' Association at the University of Otago, the Maori Law Association and holder of a three-year cadetship with Kai Tahu, she said she had lived in both the rohe of her Kai Tahu and Te Rarawa iwi, and whanaungatanga and iwi involvement were key elements in her life.