Academic achievement was celebrated and students' journeys to success acknowledged during the recent Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies undergraduate and merit scholarships presentation.

The annual awards were established in 2007 to support academic excellence in the School and as a way of highlighting positive role models.

Twenty students were presented with awards at the ceremony held on Friday 3 June 2011. The ceremony was opened by Associate Professor Te Maire Tau, and presenters included Professors Gail Gillon, Ed Adelson, Ian Town, Lucy Johnston, and Doctors Jeanette King and John Pirker. Undergraduate prizes were awarded to the top students from the previous year at each undergraduate level within the school in both Māori and Indigenous Studies and Te Reo Māori, plus there were awards for the best STAR student (an extention programme for secondary students), most improved undergraduate and overall undergraduate scholar of the year, which for 2010, was Anton Matthews.

Senior undergraduate and honours merit awards and a thesis award were presented for the current year to outstanding students with demonstrated potential and ability to succeed at postgraduate level within the school.

All award recipients were presented with certificates, prize money and a small taonga in recognition of their achievements.

Undergraduate Students: Te Reo Māori
Anastasia Tooley (Junior Award)
David Rockell (Intermediate Award)
Joshua Toki (Senior Award)
Undergraduate Students: Māori and Indigenous Studies
Catherine Patricia Kahu Moody (Junior Award)
Hatesa Seumanutafa (Intermediate Award)
Christine Deeming (Senior Award)
Top STAR Student
Anna Chirnside
Most Improved Undergraduate Student
Christopher Hynes
Aotahi Undergraduate Scholar of the Year
Anton Matthews
Senior Undergraduate Merit Awards
Aimee Le Lievre
Laura Robb
Hatesa Seumanutafa
Hamuera Tamihana
Briar Tuialii

In recognition of the potential of outstanding postgraduate students we were delighted to congratulate the following:

Postgraduate Honours Awards
Ruahine Carlson
Kyle Davis
Samaria Thompson

 

Postgraduate Masters Awards
Phillip Borell
Duane Culshaw
Corban Te Aika

 

David Rockell Undergraduate Intermediate Award, Te Reo Māori		Joshua Toki's father accepting on his son's behalf Undergraduate Senior Award,Te Reo Māori
Catherine Patricia Kahu Moody Undergraduate Junior Award, Māori and Indigenous Studies		Hatesa Seumanutafa Undergraduate Intermediate Award, Māori and Indigenous Studies
Christine Deeming Undergraduate Senior Award, Māori and Indigenous Studies		Anna Chirnside's mother accepting on her daughter's behalf Top STAR Student
Christopher Hynes Most Improved Undergraduate Student		Anton Matthews Undergraduate Scholar of the Year
Aimee Le Lievre Undergraduate Merit Award		Laura Robb Undergraduate Merit Award
Hatesa Seumanutafa Undergraduate Merit Award		Hamuera Tamihana Undergraduate Merit Award
Briar Tuialii Undergraduate Merit Award		Ruahine Carlson Postgraduate Honours Award
Kyle Davis Postgraduate Honours Award		Samaria Thompson's father accepting on his daughter's behalf Postgraduate Honours Award
Phillip Borell Postgraduate Masters Award		Duane Culshaw Postgraduate Masters Award
Corban Te Aika Postgraduate Masters Award