Port of Tauranga

Port Awards Scholarships to Local Students

Posted on 3rd February 2011

Four new students have been named as recipients of a Port of Tauranga scholarship for tertiary study (which brings the total recipients for 2011 to twelve).

The Turirangi Te Kani Memorial Scholarships, which honour one of Tauranga's leading community figures, have been awarded annually by the Port for 21 years.

This year's recipients are: Te Haana Jacob (aged 18), studying for a conjoint Bachelor Degree in Law and Maori Studies at Victoria University, Wellington; Wiremu Kuka (18), studying for a Bachelor of Engineering Degree, at the University of Canterbury; Danielle Lucas (18), studying for a Bachelor of Law combined with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and minoring in Religious Studies, at the University of Otago and Natasha Martin (17), studying Medicine with her first year in Health Sciences at the University of Otago. All students are from Tauranga.

The scholarship is awarded for up to three years' tertiary study to young people from the Tauranga Moana Trust Board area with tribal affiliation with Tauranga Iwi. It recognises not only the contribution made to the community by Turirangi Te Kani, who led the formation of the Matapihi-Ohuku Trust and served on the Tauranga-Moana Maori Trust Board, but also his services and advice to the Port of Tauranga. A veteran of the Maori Battalion, Turirangi Te Kani died in 1990.

"We take an active interest in the tertiary careers of the students we support," said Port Chief Executive Mark Cairns. "The scholarships are awarded on a year-by-year basis and the students report back on their study progress and exam results each year."

Of the eight recipients of the award from 2009 and 2010, all have been affirmed to receive the scholarships funds again in 2011. They are Fonteyn Gear, Rachael Hayes, Tumanako Hona, Corey Kuka, (second year students) and Summer Bennett, Te Paeroa Dickson, Chase Douglas and Rangitahi Kawe (third year students).

For further information please contact:

Mark Cairns
Chief Executive
Port of Tauranga Limited
Ph: 07 572 8829

  Photo of Recipients
From left to right: Natasha Martin, Danielle Lucas, Te Haana Jacob, Mark Cairns, Wiremu Kuka.