Three local Hastings mana wāhine have been named as joint recipients of this year’s Annie Aranui Scholarship.
The scholarship was set up in 2021 in memory of Annie Aranui, who was the Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner for Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.
Annie served in the public sector for more than 36 years and her service was recognised with the New Zealand Public Service Medal in 2020.
The scholarship is administrated and funded by the Hawke’s Bay Youth Futures Trust, and aims to enable and support young mana wāhine into the public sector.
All three recipients say they are very grateful to receive the funding support.
Shannon Nohokau is in her final years of studying nursing at Massey University in Wellington and is also in this year’s Hastings mayoral Tuia programme.
“This funding will help support my studies, and when I’m finished I hope to come back home to Hawke’s Bay to give back to the community through my nursing.”
Katarina Porima is currently a health coach/community navigator for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and said she was grateful and humbled to receive the scholarship.
“I will be using it to help fund my masters in Māori and Indigenous Leadership at the University of Canterbury,” she said.
Shakoa Puketapu works as a youth connector for Hastings District Council’s Mahi for Youth.
“I will be putting this funding towards attending Unleashing Māori Potential training in Wellington in November and it will support me to continue my professional development in te reo Māori.”
Youth Futures Trust chair, James Truman said these three mana wāhine had huge potential and had shown they were dedicated to furthering their studies and skills.
“We are very pleased that this funding will help them to continue training and upskilling to achieve their goals and give back to the community.”
For more information about the Annie Aranui Scholarship please visit www.hbyft.org.nz or contact info@hbyft.org.nz.
