Tū Ātea Scholarship for Māori Engineering Students

Description

This scholarship is to assist third- or fourth-year Māori students undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, specialising in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or Software Engineering. The scholarship offers financial assistance, telecommunications industry connections, and membership into the Future Māori Leaders programme to Māori undergraduate students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

History and purpose

Tū Ātea Limited established the scholarship in 2025 to encourage promising electrical engineers with a sense of purpose into a career, while growing the number of Māori students into the professional tiers and into industry leadership positions. A goal through the establishment of this scholarship is to provide Māori students with career advice, job opportunity connections, and network/relationship capital, to build some equity into the bridge between university and early career.

Tū Ātea aims to actively support Māori to lead the country’s economic future through participation in high-value telecommunications and adjacent technology jobs. It will do this through targeted investment that grows skills from early stage to specialist to leadership levels. This will directly impact the telecommunications and technology skills shortages, build future leaders, and ultimately contribute to New Zealand’s economy.

The Tū Ātea Future Māori Leaders (FML) initiative for wireless network and adjacent technologies supports people already on their journey at any stage from studies, jobs and careers. The goal is to build a generation of leaders. They will receive support, investment and opportunities to help them progress faster and further on their pathways. They will form a circular support system where those already in our programmes or in stable pathways, will be invited to provide support to their peers with our overarching guidance and oversight.

Who is eligible?

• Applicants must whakapapa Māori
• Applicants must be enrolled in their third or fourth year of a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, specialising in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or Software Engineering

Selection criteria

Selection will be based on academic achievement, character and leadership potential, the aspiration to make a difference to the world, and interview performance. The first three criteria are given equal weighting in determining the list of candidates to be interviewed. Interview performance is given the greatest weighting in determining the final recipient. All things being equal, preference will be given to fourth-year students. If, in any year, there are fewer candidates of sufficient merit than there are scholarships available, fewer scholarships are offered.

Application process

A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.

Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.

Scholarship specific documentation

• A personal statement outlining the applicant’s background, as well as the potential impact the scholarship would have towards their future aspirations to make a difference to the world. The applicant should also include any leadership opportunities or positions held
• Academic transcript
• An endorsement of iwi association (to be requested via the online application)
• A character reference (to be requested via the online application)

Selection process

The scholarship decision is made by a selection committee comprising the Toi Matauranga Māori - Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Matauranga Māori (or nominee), Head of School for the School of Engineering and Computer Science (or nominee), and a Tū Ātea Limited representative.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.

Additional information

The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of $5,000. In addition, recipients will receive networking and conference opportunities within the telecommunications industry, and membership in the Tū Ātea Future Māori Leaders Programme.
The scholarship is paid directly to the recipient’s nominated Aotearoa New Zealand bank account, in two equal instalments, one in Trimester 1 and one in Trimester 2 in the year of award.
The scholarship may be withdrawn, and any paid funds may be recovered if, during tenure, the recipient does not:

• maintain enrolment in a BEHons;
• maintain satisfactory academic progress (at the discretion of the donor);
• maintain satisfactory engagement with the Tū Ātea Future Māori Leaders programme; and
• adhere to the University’s statutes, regulations, policies, and rules.

Recipients must write a thank you letter to the donor within one month of receiving the scholarship.

Conditions

1. A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4:30pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
2. All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being enrolled in a full-year programme (as stipulated by Studylink as full-time), within the criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
3. Where part-time study for the recipient is approved, their scholarship award may be pro-rated. This decision will be made by the decision-making panel. Before the recipient decides to reduce their workload from full-time study, this must be discussed with the Scholarships Office.
4. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
5. The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other University awards, unless the conditions of the other award preclude this.
6. Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
7. Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
8. At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.

Contact

Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04