24 March 1995 St Stephens' Students Win Scholarships

St Stephens School head prefect, Matiu Payne, is one of six people to receive an Aoraki* Maori Leader's scholarship.

The Aoraki Leaders Scholarships, which recognise potential Maori leaders of the future, are administered by Lincoln University and sponsored by the Christchurch-based Aoraki Corporation.

Matiu was the student representative on the Board of Trustees in 1994 and was instrumental in forming the school's student council. He has received an Aoraki Scholarship for study and travel.

A former St Stephens student, Wiremu Gray, has received an Aoraki Scholarship to further his training in Maori carving. Wiremu is an apprentice with the Lincoln University carving school, studying under Kai Tahu carver George Edwards. He was recently commissioned to carve a lintel for the whare at Hillmorton High School in Christchurch.

Other scholarship winners were Nellie Morris, East Coast, research scholarship; Linda Grennell, Christchurch, travel scholarship; Riki Pitama, Christchurch, study scholarship; and Charlene Porima, Christchurch, study/sports scholarship.

*The use of the underlined K (k) depicts the Kai Tahu dialect which is used instead of the more common "Ng". The use of Kai Tahu dialect is a policy of the Lincoln University Centre for Maori Studies and Research.

Louise Tankersley, Associate Director, Centre for Maori Studies and Research, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.