A funding boost from sponsors, including Beef + Lamb New Zealand, has enabled five prestigious Nuffield New Zealand Scholarships to be awarded for 2013, up from the usual two or three.

Nuffield New Zealand director Richard Green says it has been the vision of the organisation and its partners to grow the programme.

"An increase in scholarship numbers has only been possible with the extra financial commitment from the partner sponsors, Dairy NZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, FMG and AGMARDT as well as other supporting sponsors, FAR, Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and Landcorp," he says.

This year's scholars hail from one end of the country to the other they are: Dairy NZ regional leader Tafadzwa Manjala from Whangarei ANZ rural banker Sophie Stanley from Hamilton, rural entrepreneur Lisa Harper from Picton, Meridian Energy national agribusiness manager Natasha King from Christchurch and Northern Southland farmer and retailer Stephen Wilkins from Athol.

Congratulations to all the scholars.