Last week, recipients of the Matatā Scholarship came together to celebrate their journeys, connect with one another and share their aspirataions in engineering.
Last week, recipients of the Matatā Scholarship came together to celebrate their journeys, connect with one another and share their aspirataions in engineering.
Funded through the generosity of Professors Dick and Mary Earl through the Engineering New Zealand Foundation, the Matatā Initiative was established to support more Māori and Pasifika tauira into professional engineering and technology careers.
The initiative has its roots in a belief that every young person deserves equitable opportunities to pursue their potential.
Throughout the celebration, scholarship recipients reflected on what inspired them to choose engineering and, more importantly, the impact they hope to have through their careers.
While every journey was different, a common thread connected each presentation.
Students spoke about wanting to design solutions that improve people's lives, strengthen communities, protect the environment and help build a more sustainable future. Many described engineering as the perfect blend of creativity, problem-solving and practicality, while others shared how early experiences through Pūhoro, school programmes, internships and supportive mentors helped them realise engineering was a pathway where they belonged.
For many of the tauira who progressed from Pūhoro's secondary school programmes into university engineering degrees, the celebration was also a chance to reflect on how far they have come.
Professor Dick Earle was in attendance and encouraged recipients to persevere through the challenging early years of study and spoke passionately about the joy engineering had brought throughout his own 70-year career.
He also challenged recipients to become ambassadors for the profession, encouraging more rangatahi Māori to consider engineering as a career and helping address the longstanding underrepresentation of Māori within the industry.
Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Andrew Cleland, also in attendance, echoed that message.
He encouraged recipients to see themselves not only as engineers, but as change-makers, highlighting that engineering is at its strongest when it is done with communities rather than for them.
* Indicates tauira who progressed through Pūhoro's secondary school programme before continuing into engineering at university.
Congratulations to all of our recipients. We look forward to following your journeys as you become the next generation of engineers helping shape stronger communities across Aotearoa.
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