Tu I Te Ora

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 ‘Our Northland – together we thrive’.

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.

The information on this page relates to the 2024 round of scholarships, which has now closed. To be notified when applications open for 2025 please email [email protected]

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
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 2024.

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 supply the following documentation:

A CV – maximum of two pages.
A Personal Statement that tells us:

- About you (including your whakapapa or connection to Te Taitokerau)
- Why you are applying for the Tū i te ora Scholarship
- What you are studying (or intending to study) and at which tertiary institute
- How your study relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions
- What it would mean to you to receive this financial support and work experience opportunity
- About your current or past involvement in community and/or environmental activities.
Proof of enrolment (or intention to enrol) in tertiary study for semester one of 2024, such as a transcript, invoice or letter of confirmation.
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).

Short-listed applicants are required to attend an interview with Northland Regional Council representatives. Interviews may be facilitated in-person at council’s Whangārei office or virtually, depending on each applicant’s circumstances.

Successful applicants will be advised of the result of their application via phone call and unsuccessful applicants will be advised via email.

Please note: Three scholarship packages are dedicated to Māori (who whakapapa to Te Taitokerau).

FAQs

- What if I can’t commit to work experience from mid-November 2024 to mid-February 2025?

Our preference is for scholarship recipients to have the opportunity to gain work experience at council. However, we understand that there may be reasons why you can’t commit to this element of the programme. If that’s the case, please indicate this in your application. If your application stands out, you may still be shortlisted or selected as a recipient to receive the monetary component of the scholarship.

- Do the paid summer work experience opportunities include accommodation arrangements?

No, recipients will need to arrange accommodation.

- Where will the paid summer work experience opportunities be based?

The summer work experience opportunities will most likely be based at Northland Regional Council’s Whangārei office.

- What's the timeline?

Friday 26 January - Applications open | Sunday 10 March - Applications close | March - Shortlisting (non-shortlisted applicants notified) | April - Interviews (unsuccessful applicants notified) | May - Scholarships awarded.