Nau mai ngā toki!

For the third year running. Tapuwae Roa is proud to be empowering rangatahi and promoting kaupapa-Māori with our annual Tukuoha funding round.

This year’s Tukuoha funding round featured the return of two of the Pou Herenga Tangata Award, dedicated to supporting rangatahi aspiring to community leadership, and the Tonganui Scholarship, designed to support talented Māori focused on advancing tikanga Māori, mātauranga tuku iho, and Te Ao Māori in the oceans sector.

Our panel reviewed some incredible applications this year and we were all blown away by the quality and diversity of kaupapa put forward for funding.

After careful consideration and some tough decisions, we are excited to announce our Tukuoha funding recipients for 2023.

The Tonganui scholarship consists of a $10,000 grant designed to accelerate talented, Māori professionals in pursuit of education or research that advances tikanga Māori, mātauranga tuku iho and Te Ao Māori within the oceans sector. Click on the images below to read more about this year’s funded projects.

Hikawai hopes to continue his mahi with Te Arawa Lakes Trust in battling invasive species within their roto through utilising mātauranga tuku iho. As part of his Master’s in Environmental Studies, Hikawai will be researching the use of ‘uwhi’, woven mats made from harakeke, and their effectiveness in protecting wai Māori taonga. 

Kayleb’s research devises alternative means of producing high-quality kūtai spat from catchment farms. The research marks his entry into a pioneering area of aquaculture research, and he is the first rangatahi Māori in this field. Upon graduating, he will be qualified to provide valuable direction to the rapidly growing aquaculture sector.

Jeremy started Children Of The Sea in 2021, a hauora-based kaupapa Maori with the purpose of raising awareness for men’s mental health and promoting safety and knowledge when in the hands of Ruku and Tangaroa. Jeremy plans on using the scholarship to fund an upcoming wānanga to Kāpiti Island.

The Pou Herenga Tangata Award consists of a $5,000 grant that aims to support rangatahi Māori to become our next generation of leaders. Successful recipients will either be rangatahi Māori (aged 16-24) who aspire to serve their community, or organisations that support rangatahi Māori to become leaders in their community. Click on the images below to read more about this year’s funded projects.

Maruata hopes to expand Pātea-based and taiohi-led programme, Te Aho Poutiaki, throughout the wider Taranaki rohe.

Inverness hopes to bring her PhD learning back to her whānau and be an inspiration for her community to rise above and dare to dream that anything is possible if you work hard.

Harema plans on attending the emerging Pacific leaders programme, Future Leaders Academy, in the Cook Islands.

Jahvaya hopes to redesign Hamilton City’s Coat of Arms to redress its racist origins and include whakaaro of mana whenua.

Maia hopes to establish a mental health clinic that will help cater to the health needs of our Māori and Pasifika communities.

Tōnui Collab hope to address digital inequity in Tairāwhiti through a rangatahi-led, Recycle a Device (RAD) programme.