Three Bay of Plenty student teachers have been awarded a Kupe Scholarship by Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe in a ceremony held in Wellington today.
The prestigious scholarships recognise highly accomplished Maori and Pacific students and support them to complete their teaching qualification and gain further success teaching in New Zealand.
Rotorua's Parekatene Potaka was a recipient, along with Tauranga's Paora Ranui and Kataraina Ngairo from Mount Maunganui.
Ms Potaka, who doubles as a wedding planner and host at Maori tourism events in Rotorua, has had a lifelong passion for te reo Maori and hauora (health).
She is currently studying towards the Te Aho Paerewa postgraduate diploma of teaching and learning in Maori Medium at Massey University.
She has a passion for teaching and education and how to help children to thrive and learn.