<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">From left: Emma Rawson with Robbie Richardson, Barbara Thomason and Director, Dr Amohia Boulton<br />
at R&#257;t&#257; Marae on 24 June 2017.&nbsp;</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whakauae Director, Dr Amohia Boulton awarded two Pae Tawhiti scholarships for the 2017 academic year during Ng&#257;ti Hauiti&rsquo;s Hui a Tau held on Saturday 24 June 2017 at R&#257;t&#257; Marae. Whakauae&rsquo;s Pae Tawhiti scholarship programme provides funding to M&#257;ori students, at Masters or PhD level, who have a proven record of academic excellence; demonstrated a commitment to te ao M&#257;ori; and are enrolled in a research degree with a focus on Hauora M&#257;ori. Doctoral student, Robbie Richardson and Masters student, Barbara Thomason were this year&rsquo;s recipients of scholarships to support their postgraduate research studies.</p>

<p>Robbie is of Ng&#257;ti Hauiti, Ng&#257;ti Raukawa and Ng&#257;ti Tuwharetoa and has a long history of engagement in health as a rongo&#257; practitioner as well as in fields including M&#257;ori health workforce development, public health and mental health. She is closely involved with supporting Ng&#257;ti Hauiti&rsquo;s Tuku Iho Treaty claims work and is also a member of both the Mana Whenua Hauora Iwi Relationship Board at MidCentral DHB and of the Central PHO Board. Robbie this year began doctoral study in M&#257;ori Development and Advancement through Te Whare W&#257;nanga o Awanui&#257;rangi and is currently completing a series of papers prior to beginning her dissertation.</p>

<p>Masters scholarship recipient, Barbara Thomason is also of Ng&#257;ti Hauiti. Barbara has been closely involved in iwi affairs, as well as with wider Mokai Patea activities, for many years. A trained nurse, she has spent much of her later career in Rangit&#299;kei primary and secondary schools supporting and teaching M&#257;ori students in a range of capacities. Barbara is currently working on her Master&rsquo;s research examining the intergeneration transmission of knowledge: Ahik&#257;roa.</p>

<p>Both scholarship recipients addressed the iwi during the Hui a Tau acknowledging their awards and providing an outline of their research interests and aspirations. Also present was the 2016 inaugural Pae Tawhiti scholarship recipient, Masters student Emma Rawson. Emma is of Ng&#257;i Te Rangi, Ng&#257;ti&nbsp;Ranginui&nbsp;and Ng&#257;ti Raukawa. In her address, she described her progress in researching institutional racism in human resource practices in public health units. She acknowledged the advantages that had accrued as an outcome of being awarded the Pae Tawhiti scholarship including new doors being opened in advancing her career as a M&#257;ori health researcher supporting improved M&#257;ori health outcomes. Emma is completing her Master&rsquo;s degree at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) through the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whakauae extends congratulations to the 2017 scholarship recipients. We look forward to supporting them both in their work contributing towards attaining equity in health outcomes for M&#257;ori.</p>
