Beverley Anaru memorial scholarships awarded

EDUCATION: Scholarship recipient Tipene James (left), Pita Anaru and Tiweka Anaru. PHOTO/ANN SOMERVILLE

Late Te Arawa educator Beverley Anaru has been honoured in the inaugural presentation ceremony of the Beverley Anaru Memorial Scholarships.

The ceremony took place at St Faith's Church last Wednesday for the eight tertiary students who whakapapa to Te Arawa.

Pihopa (Bishop) Kingi opened the proceedings, noting it was a special day and special to have the ceremony at St Faith's Church.

"This gesture starts young people into far-reaching and worthwhile careers."

Mrs Anaru's nephew Wiremu Shuker spoke to the gathered crowd about the application process and introduced each recipient.

"We decided a strong sense of belonging from applicants was needed - we asked [each applicant] to tell us a story about their grandparents, your whakapapa and stories about people that are real.

"All the stories that came out were really neat, and all the applicants were spoken about highly by their endorsers," Mr Shuker said.

The first recipient was Tiana Anaru, a fourth-year student at Waikato studying a Bachelor of Business Management.

Eruera Bidois received a scholarship and his commitment to te reo Maori was spoken about.

Dakota Day, a student at Auckland University, said she wanted to return to Ohinemutu after finishing studying to be a doctor.

"I want to play my part in improving the health of my people."

Maraea Grant is studying a Bachelor of Arts in Maori and Geography at Auckland University.

She said she wanted to use her degree to create "innovative and culturally appropriate solutions to the environmental issues we face".

The only masters recipient was Sonia Hawkins.

She will explore senior nurses' understanding of health equity "so everybody has the opportunity to pursue education and have good health".

"I'm overwhelmed by the gift that has been granted to us, and I want to acknowledge the work of Beverley Anaru to improve Maori outcomes."

Tipene James is off to do a Bachelor of Arts in te reo Maori at Waikato University.

Awatea Leach said she would be studying towards a Bachelor of Fashion Design at Massey University in Wellington.

"I want to incorporate who I am, my hapu, iwi into what I am trying to do."

Takiri Raerino is a second-year Bachelor of Commerce student at Victoria University, studying psychology and management.

She said it was a real privilege to receive the award, and to be among other amazing students.

There was a musical interlude by Stella Maris and Richard Anaru.

Further speeches were given by Pat Brown, chairman of the Geyser Community Foundation and Pita Anaru, Mrs Anaru's widower.

Mrs Anaru was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 1995 for public service in recognition of her contribution to education, and received a multi-service teaching award for reading and language.

The scholarships are managed by the Geyser Community Foundation and are worth a total of $40,000.