UC Te Kakau a Māui Scholarships 2026

We are thrilled to announce the 2026 recipients of the GWC Sponsored UC Te Kakau a Māui Scholarships!

This year, our two scholarship recipients are Evania Tairakena-Moce and Kararaina Cairns.

These rangatahi were selected for exemplifying the values at the heart of the scholarship programme: a commitment to creating positive change in the world, meaningful engagement with the communities who will benefit from that change, and the personal resilience and determination needed to successfully complete a degree.

What makes the Te Kakau a Māui Scholarship Programme truly special is its foundation in manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and tiakitanga. Beyond financial support, recipients receive comprehensive wraparound support, including social gatherings, success and targeted employability opportunities, peer learning support, and access to a range of enriching events. Through GWC’s tertiary funding initiative we sponsor two students through their study at UC.

Evania’s Reflections on Receiving a Scholarship:

Kia ora, my name is Evania Tairakena-Moce and I am a law student at the University of Canterbury.

I was drawn to UC for its strong academic reputation and its commitment to nurturing students within a supportive, values-based environment. Studying law is deeply important to me, as it equips me with the tools to understand and challenge systems that impact my people and my hāpori, and to uphold principles of justice and equity.

Receiving the Te Kakau a Māui scholarship is especially meaningful, as it affirms my identity and aspirations, supports my journey through what can be a demanding degree, and strengthens my responsibility to succeed not only for myself, but also for my whānau.

How Receiving a Scholarship Has Impacted Kararaina:

I’m Kararaina, and I'm studying a Business degree, majoring in Human Resource management and minoring in Māori indigenous studies.

I spent most of my time growing up in and around Ōtautahi, and I have a lot of whanau who I love very dearly down here, so moving away for uni would have been hard. I chose UC as it is highly ranked and maintains a good relationship with Kāi Tahu, and Tuahiwi. Even though I do not whakapapa to this iwi and hapu it is important to me that the kura I attend is culturally aware, inclusive, and progressive. I love that the UC campus is relatively close together, and I appreciate being able to walk everywhere and still feel surrounded by nature. The extracurricular programs for my degree align well with my interests, including the study tours etc.

The student culture is well fostered, and I like the club options we have too.

The scholarship I was awarded means a lot to me. It has not only relieved a major financial burden but also motivated me to have higher expectations for myself and make the most of every opportunity uni offers. Having scholarship support has allowed me to focus on my studies and personal growth without constant stress, which positively impacts both my wellbeing and the people around me. It also puts me in a position where I can encourage others especially younger students from my old high school to consider UC as a realistic and worthwhile path for them, as a lot of the tauira I'm still in contact with come from similar backgrounds to me.

A huge congratulations to Evania and Kararaina, our 2026 recipients. Kia mau ki te mahi pai! – Keep up the good work!