Spotlight on scholarship studies

ACTION: Cameras rolled at the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre last month to capture the hard work of ASB Bank and Poutamu Trust scholarship recipients that included Cedric Julian, left, and Dakota Tipu-Moengaroa, who are pictured speaking with the director about the day of filming. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A film crew has turned the spotlight on Maori scholarship students at the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in Wairarapa.

The crew focused on a trio of ASB Bank and Poutamu Trust Scholarship students, to highlight a partnership between the trust and bank that annually offers four scholarships to help Maori aged from 17 to 25 to undertake training, says Yvonne Way, Taratahi marketing and communications manager.

"The scholarship was set up to recognise that the next generation of farmers will need to come from the large pool of Maori youth in our society and that it is important that these youth coming into the industry are educated and skilled in order to succeed."

The latest crop of scholarship recipients includes Philip Kopa, of Kaikohe, Dakota Tipu-Moengaroa, of Hunterville, Cedric Julian, of Pahiatua, and Taane Hubbard, of Wairoa.

All were enrolled in the Certificate in Agriculture Level 3 programme and were specialising in a mix of sheep and beef and dairy strands. The 40-week programme provides the knowledge and skills necessary to start a career in either sheep and beef or dairy and is a mix of theory, technical skills and on-farm training, Ms Way said. Three of them were interviewed on camera over a day of filming, demonstrating skills learned since they started at Taratahi in January and hosting the crew around the campus.

Anthony Ririnui, ASB Bank national manager of Maori business, has been working with Poutama Trust and said the objective behind the scholarships was "to remove barriers such as financial hardship".

Mark Heer, general manager ASB Rural said the bank was involved in the rural industry in New Zealand "as it is a key economic sector of the NZ economy, providing 52 per cent of merchandise trade exports, plus employment, innovation and science to New Zealand's economy".

"In order to address the shortage of skilled workers in the agricultural industry," said Mr Heer, "we need to promote agriculture as a credible employment option to youth and provide world class rural NCEA programmes at schools."

Mr Heer said ASB Bank plans on using the film to promote at field and show days throughout New Zealand the agricultural industry and the bank's involvement in the sector.

Taratahi offers full-time courses, diploma programmes, extra mural study, short courses and STAR/Gateway programmes as well as the Primary Industries Trades Academy.

The main campus is near Masterton in the Wairarapa, with non-residential campuses in Manawatu, Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Northland.

Scholarships available for students may be viewed at our website www.taratahi.ac.nz or call 0800 TARATAHI.