About the scholarship
Northland Regional Council’s Tū i te ora Scholarship recognises and supports students to undertake study, research or training that relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions – providing a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions, whilst contributing to council’s vision ‘Tiakina te taiao, tuia te here tangata - Nurture the environment, bring together the people’.
The scholarship aims to:
- Build Māori capacity within Te Taitokerau and assist students to pursue further education
- Encourage greater uptake of tertiary education aimed at protecting the environment
- Develop connections between tertiary students and council
- Provide support to students experiencing financial hardship and difficulties
- Encourage mātauranga Māori research and education.
Eligibility criteria
The scholarship is available to students who:
- Are a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
- Reside in, have family that reside in or have whakapapa (a genealogical connection) to Te Taitokerau (according to Northland Regional Council’s operational boundaries).
- Are studying at an undergraduate or higher qualification level.
- Are enrolled (or intend to enrol) in a recognised tertiary course of study that relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions. Applicants must be enrolled (or intend to enrol) for semester one of 2025.
- Have not previously received the Tū i te ora Scholarship.
- Are not employed by Northland Regional Council in a full-time, part-time or fixed-term role (excluding interns).
- Can commit to the summer work experience (mid-November 2025 to mid-February 2026).
Council’s environmental and regulatory functions include these areas:
- Biodiversity
- Biosecurity
- Climate change
- Environmental planning and policy
- Environmental science and data analysis
- Flood and natural hazard engineering and management
- Geographic information system (GIS)
- Land management
- Water management.
How to apply
In your application, you need to provide answers to the following questions:
- What are you studying/intending to study, at which tertiary institute, and what is level of tertiary study are you currently in?
- Why are you applying for the scholarship?
- How does your study relate to NRC’s environmental and regulatory functions?
- What would it mean to you to receive this financial support and work experience opportunity?
- What involvement have you had with community and/or environmental activities?
You must answer eligibility questions and standard pre-employment questions.
And provide:
- A CV – maximum of two pages.
- Proof of enrolment (or intention to enrol) in tertiary study for semester one of 2025, such as a letter of confirmation or approved papers.
- A transcript of your most recent academic results.
- Two references (one academic and one character). Please note: shortlisted applicants will be required to provide an employment reference.
Terms and conditions must be agreed to when applying.
Selection criteria
When assessing applications, the panel may take into consideration any/all of the following:
- Academic merit
- Whakapapa to Te Taitokerau
- Community involvement
- Financial need
- Relevance of studies (to council’s environmental and regulatory functions).
Please note: Three scholarship packages are dedicated to Māori (who whakapapa to Te Taitokerau).
Meet the 2024 recipients
Huia Clarke
Bachelor of Science, majoring in Green Chemical Science
Barbara Goodwin
Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 6)
Isabella Jensen
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts Conjoint, majoring in Māori Resource Management and Public Policy
Winiwini Kingi
Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 5)
Alyssa Olsen
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science conjoint, majoring in Engineering Science and Environmental Science
Sequoia Stevens
Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning, minoring in Māori Studies