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Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa (Te Kotahitanga) and Parininihi Ki Waitotara (PKW) prioritises the protection and preservation of our historical, cultural and spiritual connection with the environment. As kaitiaki, we are responsible for protecting the mauri of our natural and cultural resources. In response, Te Kotahitanga and PKW created a scholarship to support Te Atiawa uri who are studying in the field of Environmental Planning and/or Resource Management.
This scholarship is designed to recognise outstanding up-and-coming talent and to encourage uri to keep pursuing their goals. This annual scholarship will be open to all applicants who whakapapa to Te Atiawa Iwi and evidence their involvement in Te Atiawa and community kaupapa.
Te Kotahitanga and PKW are excited to announce Renee Hanrahan as the first recipient of this scholarship. Renee is currently in her third and final year of a B.A majoring in Māori Resource Management with a minor in Tourism Management at Victoria University in Wellington.
Ko Tokomaru te waka
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Waitara te awa
Ko Muru Raupatu tōku marae
Ko Puketapu tōku hapū
Ko Te Atiawa tōku iwi
E noho ana au ki Whanganui-a-Tara
Ko Joan tōku kuia
Ko Davina Pania tōku whaea
Ko Steve tōku matua
Ko Kelsey tōku tuakana
Ko Renee tōku ingoa
Renee has always been keen on sports and has recently started playing netball again. She has spent time volunteering at Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary in Karori, Wellington. As a visitor experience guide, Renee interacts with visitors from all over the world (before borders closed) and talks about the beauty and importance of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.
Renee is currently in her third and final year of a B.A majoring in Māori Resource Management with a minor in Tourism Management at Victoria University in Wellington. She has also taken papers in Geography and Public Policy.
“It’s been so interesting to learn about Te Ao Māori from many different angles including astronomy and the very exciting world of stone adzes! Recently I’ve been thinking more and more seriously about undertaking a Master of Planning at Otago University next year. I think there is a real need and desire for environmental planners at a local and central government level that understand Te Ao Māori’s connection to the environment and the value that Matauranga Māori can contribute to the problems our natural world is facing.”
Receiving the PKW/ Te Ati Awa joint scholarship for students in the Māori Resource Management field has been a huge help to Renee.
“… it has also been a great support to know that my Iwi and such a successful Māori Corporation together acknowledge the need for a strong Māori presence in this field. This support has helped me hugely to push through and enjoy my final year of study, knowing that I have the support of Taranaki behind me.”
Outside of University, Renee has recently finished working in a vintage clothing shop and has started a casual job as an Environmental Assistant at Transpower to gain an insight into the complicated world of resource management in Aotearoa.
