2024 Ebba Te Tua Scholar Announced

Photo above [from left]: Mark Vincent, Pacific Lakes Village Manager, Grant Muru, Scholarship Recipient and Scott Wikohika, Mangatawa Pāpāmoa Blocks Inc Chief Executive.  

“My decision to undertake the Te Tohu Paetahi diploma programme at the University of Waikato was driven by both my personal aspiration to deepen my connection with the language and my heritage, and also my professional aspiration to be able to create a culturally responsive and inclusive learning environment as a teacher.” Grant has been teaching over 30 years.

The passion for te reo has always been close to Grant’s heart. “Whilst my grandparents and parents where fluent speakers, it was not spoken at home when I grew up. It was not really until high school that I had my first exposure to learning te reo. However, whilst completing the curriculum successfully, the school programme was not enough to learn to converse in te reo and until now I was only able to grasp basic sentences.”

Te Tohu Paetahi, is a one-year total immersion Māori language programme at the University of Waikato. The first intensive te reo Māori immersion programme of its kind, Te Tohu Paetahi has paved the way for the revitalisation of te reo Māori for more than 30 years. The goal of this programme is to produce students who can fluently and competently speak in te reo Māori, no matter their starting level of fluency.

“I wish to stand confidently on my marae one day and whaikōrero [formally speak] in te reo. I wish to pass on te reo to my mokopuna and give them the opportunity to grow up with the language,” says Grant. “I am truly honoured to be awarded the Ebba Te Tua scholarship to support me on this journey.”

The Ebba Te Tua Scholarship programme is in its third year. The 2023 Scholarship recipient Tui Papuni completed her Masters in Education degree at University of Waikato whist working full time and raising a family of six tamariki. A true testament to her commitment.

“This experience has opened my eyes to many different opportunities. I truly believe our next generation need to be well equipped in te ao Māori, tikanga Māori and te reo Māori,” reiterates Tui. “Cultural identity is what makes us who we are and losing sight of that is detrimental to upholding our values and beliefs. I aspire to be a future leader for the Ngā Pōtiki people, someone who will teach, nurture, lead, learn and develop future generations into becoming educated in all areas of life.”

The Generus Living and Mangatawa Partnership established the Ebba Te Tua Scholarship in honour of respected teacher and kuia Ebba Te Tua who taught at Arataki School in Mount Maunganui for nearly 30 years. The annual scholarship supports the professional and educational development of Mangatawa uri [descendants] who have chosen to pursue a career in education and in particular are committed to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.