Four students from the Rotorua region have been given full scholarships to the University of Auckland.
The scholarships are worth up to $50,000.
They were John Paul College head girl Rebecca Colby and Jisoo Seok of Western Heights High School, Jack Potaka of Rotorua Boys' High School, who received aChancellor's Award for Top Maori and Pacific Island Scholars, and another student who did not wish to be named.
Rebecca plans to study a conjoint Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts.
"Law offers me the opportunity to further my understanding of the world around us and use this knowledge to help others. This course appeals to me because with a career in law, I will be able to continue meeting new people, hear their stories and share my skills," she said.
Rebecca is also passionate about the dramatic arts and recently won Performer of the Year for the Rotorua region at the New Zealand Young Performer Awards 2015 and was a Rotorua Young Achiever Recipient.
Rebecca said the scholarship removed a significant financial burden faced by students when undertaking tertiary studies.
Jisoo said she was "pleasantly surprised" when she was awarded her scholarship.
"I was ecstatic but surprised, I wasn't really expecting it. It means a lot of financial pressure has been taken off me and my family. I'm going to study commerce, majoring in accounting, and hopefully I will become an accountant."
Jack said the scholarship opened more doors to help with his legal studies - helping him reach his ultimate aspiration to be a great Maori leader like his role models.
"Being Maori, and knowing that as a Maori lawyer you're a role model for others and you're in a position to assist your whanau, hapu and iwi in legal matters. The great Maori minds who are also legal experts such as Moana Jackson, Justice Joe Williams, Judge Craig Coxhead etc. These men are not only well educated and have excellent legal minds, but they also have a deep understanding of te reo and tikanga Maori. And I aspire to be like these great Maori men."
