Tautoko for excellence in te ahumahi ā-rēhia: Te Mahi Ako 2022 Māori Sports scholarship

Published 2 March 2023
Te Mahi Ako celebrated high achievers in te ahumahi ā-rēhia with its Māori Sports Scholarship for 2022.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātau.

He hōnore, he kororia ki te Atua, he maungarongo ki te whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa. Ki ngā iwi I runga I ngā motu e rua, arā, Te Ika a Maui me Te Waipounamu, tēnā koutou, tenā koutou, tēnā tātau katoa.

As the national work-based learning specialist in active recreation, leisure and entertainment, Te Mahi Ako provides the Volunteer Development, Small Business, and Māori Sports scholarships.

The Te Mahi Ako Māori Sports Scholar for 2022 is Gisele Howard (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kauwhata, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi) from St John College in Rotorua (pictured above second from right).

Gisele is involved in athletics, netball, rugby and multisport at a regional and national level. She has been accepted into the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at Otago University and her $5,000 scholarship will support her aspirations to become a medical practitioner.

“Mātauranga Māori, aroha and niwha are values I believe will inspire me to hopefully enter medicine and become a great doctor for my tangata whenua,” Gisele says.

Interim chief executive Maren Frerichs says Te Mahi Ako is thrilled to be able to support hard-working people with lofty goals – whether that’s better training for outdoor recreation volunteers, more qualified swim teachers, or better Māori health outcomes.

“Ka mau te wehi to all our scholarship recipients this year,” Ms Frerichs says. “These exceptionally talented people are a reminder of the vital importance of sport and physical activity to the fabric of Kiwi life, and we are honoured to support them.”

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Media contact for Skills Active: Esther McLaren | esther@skillsactive.org.nz | 021 195 5127

Skills Active Aotearoa is the transitional industry training organisation for recreation, exercise, sport and performing arts. We are a non-profit organisation, 50% owned by Māori shareholders, and funded by government to support Aotearoa businesses, organisations, iwi and community enterprises to get their staff and volunteers trained and qualified.