Tipene will next year begin working towards a Bachelor of Arts at Waikato University.
He has a family connection to the 28th Maori Battalion with both of his great grandfathers having been members of its B Company.
Te reo Maori is Tipene's passion, and he has been the top te reo Maori student in each of his years at Rotorua Boys' High School.
Tipene is also a kapa haka enthusiast, and has competed in kapa haka at a regional and national level. He has also travelled internationally to perform.
His talents not ending there, Tipene has also competed and won medals nationally and internationally in waka ama and Va'a Outrigger Canoeing.
Participating in life at his marae has provided Tipene with an understanding of Te Arawa tikanga and kawa, and he hopes to one day follow in his father's footsteps and become a marae trustee.
Jack attends Auckland University where he is studying towards a Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Arts.
His first language is te reo Maori and he too has a strong family connection to the 28th Maori Battalion. Two of Jack's great uncles were members.
Jack spoke at the dawn service at Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli in 2014, as the winner of the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition.
He has had many academic successes, including being awarded dux, Top English Scholar, and Top Maori Student at Rotorua Boys' High, and winning the Nga Manu Korero Senior English Impromptu trophy.
Knowing who he is and where he comes from through his whakapapa, enables Jack to stand tall in both te ao Maori and te ao Pakeha.
"The scholarships recognise the exciting futures these eight exceptional winners have. They have already demonstrated what young Māori can achieve with hard work and dedication and I look forward to seeing what more they can achieve," Ms Parata said.
The three winners of the master's scholarship will receive $15,000 per year for up to two years. The five undergraduate scholarship winners will receive $10,000 per year for up to five years.
All winners will be recognised at an awards ceremony in April 2017.
Recipients:
Master's scholarship:
- Ana Montgomery-Neutze (Muaupoko),
- Maia Wikaira (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa)
- Arena Williams (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Tuhoe, Whakatohea, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu)
Undergraduate scholarship:
- Ezekiel Raui (Te Rarawa ki Hokianga, Ngaphui)
- Tekiteora Rolleston-Gabel (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Kahu, Ngai Te Rangi)
- Tipene James (Te Arawa)
- Jack Potaka (Ngati Hauiti, Ngati Tama, Ngati Tuwharetoa)
- Kaahu White (Te Rarawa, Kai Tahu)
