A partnership rooted in purpose continues to uplift education and community wellbeing in the Bay of Plenty.

Mangatawa Pāpāmoa Blocks Incorporated (MPBI) and Generus Living (GL), through their Pacific Coast and Pacific Lakes villages, are celebrating the fourth year of the Ebba Te Tua Scholarship – a tribute to a beloved educator and a powerful investment in Māori-medium teaching and te reo Māori.

“The Ebba Te Tua Scholarship is just one example of how our partnership with Mangatawa creates meaningful opportunities. Together, we can honour the past, support education, and give back to the community,” Generus Living director Graham Wilkinson said.

“Education grants and scholarships remain one of the cornerstone levers for improving the outcomes of Mangatawa shareholders and whānau,” Mangatawa Pāpāmoa Blocks Incorporated chairwoman Blanche McMath said.

“We’re thrilled that through our partnership with Generus we can continue to support their academic pursuits.

“Marking 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, the Ebba Te Tua Scholarship reflects our commitment to nurture our language and our heritage.”

The scholarship honours the late Whaea Ebba Te Tua, who taught for nearly three decades at Arataki School and played a pivotal role in developing bilingual and Māori immersion education.

This year’s recipients are Rarauhe Wano and Parengamihi Gardiner, chosen from a strong field of applicants committed to both education and te ao Māori (Māori worldview).

Rarauhe Wano is a kaiawhina (teacher aide), supporting tamariki from preschool through to primary school.

She is studying towards a Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching), with a passion for Māori-medium schooling.

Parengamihi Gardiner brings 25 years of teaching experience, currently at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Kōkiri, a Māori immersion school in Tauranga.

An active figure within the local community, Parengamihi serves on Te Waka Pererua kapa haka committee, which will host this year’s Te Mana Kuratahi competitions.

She is pursuing a Master’s in Education, focusing on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and strengthening teaching in Māori-medium settings.

“I am passionate about te reo Māori, and it is very important to me that the language and our traditions are shared with the next generations, our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren,” she said.

Since its establishment in 2022, the Ebba Te Tua Scholarship has fostered a growing network of educators committed to promoting te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori.

Past recipient Grant Herekotukutuku Muru described his studies as “truly transformative”, highlighting the wider impact of the initiative.

As New Zealand approaches Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week, September 14-20), this announcement recognises educators carrying forward Whaea Ebba’s vision of a thriving language and culture for generations to come.