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Meet the 2025 Tū i te ora Scholarship winners
Congratulations to the six recipients of our Tū i te ora Scholarship for 2025 – Aakash Chatterji, Nehana Griffiths, Riana Lane, Isaac Morrow, Raine Ross, and William Trubshaw.
The recipients, who were selected from 26 applicants, each receive $4000 toward their tertiary studies plus paid work experience at council. They will join our Biosecurity Partnerships, Climate Action and Natural Hazards, Māori Relationships, and Water Quality teams from November 2025 to February 2026.
The annual 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.
We are delighted to support such promising Northland talent and look forward to the students joining us later this year for their work experience.
Meet the recipients
Aakash Chatterji
Te Uriroroi, Te Parawhau, Te Mahurehure ki Whatitiri, Te Taoū. Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi & Varanasi India
Aakash will join our Water Quality and Māori Relationships teams this summer.
From Whangārei, Aakash is passionately pursuing a Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 6) at NorthTec.
With a deep-seated love for te taiao (the environment), Aakash is particularly fascinated by the diverse methods used to monitor organisms and ecosystems.
He looks forward to joining council’s Water Quality and Māori Relationships teams this summer, where he will contribute his knowledge of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and extensive experience in community initiatives.
"I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity provided through the Tū i te ora Scholarship. My hapū in Poroti are intrinsically connected to our land and waterways. By receiving this work experience opportunity, I will be able to add to my kete of knowledge and share the learnings with our people,” says Aakash.
After completing his studies, Aakash aspires to enter the workforce – hopefully securing a position with council to continue helping to protect te taiao.
Nehana will join our Climate Action and Natural Hazards team this summer.
From Whangārei and Dunedin, Nehana has a passion for learning about the history of Aotearoa New Zealand, specifically how the whenua (land) has been utilised and the impacts of this over time.
This, combined with his love of the environment and desire to further enrich his mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), has led Nehana to study towards a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and minoring in Geography and Māori Studies at the University of Otago.
“I enjoy looking at environmental management cases and learning how different communities in different contexts and situations tackle environmental problems, and what we can learn from those results for the future.”
Nehana hopes his work experience with council’s Climate Action and Natural Hazards team this summer will push him to try new things and strengthen his skills and knowledge. He will help the team support communities to respond to a changing climate through understanding the risks and opportunities, and the actions they can take to thrive in a changing world.
“I want to help people and animals in any way possible; either helping communities adapt to the rapidly changing climate we are experiencing or helping animals thrive and live enriched and safe lives on our whenua,” says Nehana.
Riana will join council’s Biosecurity Partnerships Team this summer.
Raised in rural Whangārei, Riana spent a lot of time outdoors, in the bush and around the sea, and grew up with an appreciation and love for the natural environment. From an early age she recognised how important these environments are in supporting a wide variety of species but equally how vulnerable they are to environmental changes, pests, and human pressures.
Now studying towards a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biological Science and minoring in Psychology at the University of Canterbury, Riana is determined to do her bit to help and protect our natural work for future generations to enjoy and treasure.
“I want to apply my love for our flora and fauna in a career in conservation, breeding programmes, and zoology to work with and study our native species, and to support them to survive and thrive in our changing world. My psychology study compliments my career aspirations as effective communication and understanding of what motives people is a big part of environmental action,” says Riana.
This summer, Riana will join council’s Biosecurity Partnerships Team to support community projects aimed at managing plant and animal pests.
Isaac will join council’s Water Quality Team this summer.
From Kerikeri, Isaac grew up deeply connected to the moana (ocean). After witnessing environmental degradation to places that have always been part of his life and identity, Isaac knew he wanted to gain the knowledge and tools needed to restore and protect them. He is now studying a Bachelor of Marine Science at the University of Otago.
After graduation he aspires to stay connected to Te Taitokerau and work in marine conservation or environmental research, ideally in a role that blends science, community, and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
“Long-term I want to contribute to solutions that are rooted in local values and designed to support both people and the environment for generations to come. By working at the intersection of science and culture, I believe I can help lead initiatives that are effective and deeply rooted in who we are,” says Isaac.
Isaac will join council’s Water Quality Team this summer, helping to monitor the health of rivers, lakes, coastal and groundwater systems across the region.
Raine will join council’s Māori Relationships team.
Raine, from Mōtatau, is studying towards a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) at Massey University.
Inspired by her whānau, Raine is deeply motivated to learn more about the world we live in, embrace different perspective on life, and contribute to helping sustain the whenua (land) for generations to come.
“My main aspiration is to be a part of a team that works towards finding solutions to environmental issues, such as working in policy or environmental justice. I’m strongly passionate about making sure vulnerable communities are not left behind,” says Raine.
Raine’s passion for te taiao (the environment) is woven throughout her life; she is an active member of Te Manu Taupunga, taking on the role of medic during whale strandings, and is involved in Kauri Ora Ngāti Hine, in which she monitors the health and progress of kauri trees.
This summer, Raine will join council’s Māori Relationships team, where she looks forward to making a meaningful impact.
William will join council’s Hydrology team this summer.
Growing up in Whangārei, William was often outdoors – whether for sport, work, or fun. In high school, he enjoyed understanding the mechanisms of life, and in particular how different processes shape environmental change.
To get a wider understanding of what makes life tick, Williams is now studying towards a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science conjoint, majoring in Biological Sciences and Geography, and minoring in Mathematics at the University of Canterbury.
In the future, William would like to be in a career that allows him to be involved in initiatives towards environmental sustainability, including undertaking projects in resource management, ecology, or Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.
William will join council’s Hydrology team this summer to help collect data on rainfall, groundwater, river levels and flow, and more.
“I am really looking forward to getting to know the processes of environmental management through a regional council, which will develop my understanding at university and allow me to apply what I’ve learned to real life scenarios,” says William.
