Following in grandmother's footsteps

Tahlia Kingi was inspired by the work her grandmother Inez Kingi, pictured here on the right with her husband Pihopa, had done for the Rotorua community. Photo / File

Tahlia Kingi is following in her Rotorua grandmother's footsteps to support the health and wellbeing of Maori.

The 28-year-old doctorate student, who is studying to be a clinical psychologist, was yesterday awarded a Ngarimu VC and 28th (Maori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship worth $25,000 a year for up to two years.

Ms Kingi, who grew up in Rotorua, is researching self-injury among young Maori and the support role of whanau and community for her PhD, which she will complete in 2016.

She said the funding would allow her to complete her PhD at Victoria University in Wellington.

Tahlia Kingi has been awarded a $50,000 scholarship for two years to complete her PhD research into self-injury among young Maori.

"It's a huge thing for me to be able to finish my PhD and do it properly.

"What I still want to do is not really achievable in three years, I need to research it and do it in ways that are more Maori.

"Kaupapa Maori research takes longer than traditional Western methods of research, in terms of engagement with Maori and collaboration."

She said she was inspired by the work her grandmother Inez Kingi had done for the Rotorua community.

"The interview process for the scholarship was very intense and I had to talk about my leadership experience and my leadership attributes, and I started talking about my kuia Inez Kingi, who started Tunohopu Health Centre at Ohinemutu.

"My koro did a lot in Rotorua for Maori wellbeing."

Ms Kingi had previously received scholarships from the Health Research Centre, a testament to how valuable her research will be.

"In Aotearoa there is not a lot of knowledge about this problem. There's bits and pieces here and there but a lot of what we do now is taken from international research, or broad research done into New Zealand youth."

Applications for the next round of the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Maori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship open on July 1 and close in September.