Financial support for tauira may be just an application away, thanks to a suite of scholarships and awards being offered by the Aotearoa Scholarship Trust (AST).

The trust was established in 2010 and has so far provided more than $500,000 of funding to more than 100 successful recipients nationwide.

In 2017, there will be a continued focus on supporting Māori and Pasifika educational excellence through these scholarships, with awards covering education, social services, arts, kaupapa Māori and indigenous masters study.

Fourteen award categories are available for the scholarships, offering a total of $67,500 for up to 17 tauira undertaking masters, degree or diploma level studies.

Scholarships range from $2500 for Angitū, Te Arawhānui and Toi Māori tauira, to $5000 for each of five Memorial Awards available.

These memorial awards acknowledge the leaders Dr. Diggeress Te Kanawa, Tāne Taylor, Mike Watson, Dr Buck Nin and Rewi Panapa and the contributions they made to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, education, the arts and our communities.

AST chairman and Tumukahuroa Hone Paul says the criteria to apply for the scholarships has been designed to support educational excellence demonstrated by tauira who are actively contributing to whānau transformation.

"Each year, recipients are selected based on their high achieving determination and dedication to their studies, despite what life has to offer," he says.

 "This shows in many of the stories shared, from walking miles or hitching to get to class to follow their dreams, to students who are the first in their whānau to gain a degree. There are so many wonderful heart-warming stories of life and study to hear when we stop and listen."

Tauira who are great role models in the community and who are making a difference in te ao Māori  are encouraged to apply.

AST application forms and information will be available online from April 18 and applications close on May 26. Scholarship winners will be announced in July. 

Email ast@twoa.ac.nz for more information.