Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka-a-Māui Mahere Whakamarohi Scholarship (Top of the South Planning Student Scholarship)

The Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka-a-Māui Mahere Whakamarohi Scholarship is offered by the New Zealand Planning Institute Nelson/Marlborough Branch to financially support tertiary students with strong connections to the Top of the South region (Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman) pursuing careers in planning. The scholarship provides a one-off cash grant of $2000 NZD for study-related expenses or to support students transitioning into planning work in the region, plus funded return travel costs for one visit. Recipients must be studying an accredited NZPI planning degree in New Zealand at undergraduate or postgraduate level and demonstrate ties to the region through birth, upbringing, whakapapa, ongoing connections, or employment prospects. As part of the scholarship obligations, recipients must give back to the profession by visiting and presenting to students at no fewer than two secondary schools in the Top of the South region to promote the planning profession. The application requires students to address what they would tell their 'secondary school self' about planning, including opportunities, challenges, skillset requirements, and career aspirations. The scholarship is renewable and may be awarded to the same person multiple times.