The Edna Money Future Pacific Leaders’ Scholarship was established to provide academically talented
Pacific students who demonstrate significant leadership potential an opportunity to study at the
University of Waikato. Edna Money was a Morrinsville farmer and accountant who bequeathed the sum
of $1 million to the University of Waikato to benefit Pacific students. The Scholarship supports one new
recipient each year.
Purpose
The purpose of the Edna Money Future Pacific Leaders’ Scholarship is to provide support
for students of Pacific ethnicity to achieve academically in an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Waikato.
Eligibility
To be eligible, candidates must:
- a) have achieved NCEA Level 2 with Merit, or the equivalent through examinations such as the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) examination;
- b) be of Pacific Island descent and involved in, and committed to, the Pacific community;
- c) be studying at NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent) towards University Entrance in the year prior to tenure;
- d) be intending to enrol full-time (a full-time academic year comprises 120 points) in an undergraduate degree programme1 at the University of Waikato for the first time in 2024; and
- e) be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
Candidates who are taking ONE ‘gap year’ in the year of application may also be considered,
provided they have achieved both NCEA Level 2 and NCEA Level 3 with Merit, or the equivalent through examinations such as the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) examination.
To maintain eligibility, students offered the Scholarship must:
a) gain University Entrance;
b) be accepted into an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Waikato; and
c) enrol full-time as outlined in Clause 1.1.d
Value and Tenure
- The value of the Scholarship will be $6,000 per year for up to three years.
- The Scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient in two equal instalments annually. The first instalment will be processed after the withdrawal date for A trimester and the second instalment after the withdrawal date for B trimester in the year of tenure.
- Provided they meet all accommodation application deadlines, recipients will be guaranteed a place in a University Hall of Residence in the first year of the Scholarship.
- The Scholarship will have a maximum tenure of three years.
- The Scholarship may continue for consecutive periods of enrolment for up to three years, provided that the recipient:
a) remains enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree programme3
; and
b) achieves at least a B grade average across all papers undertaken in each year of
tenure.
How to Apply
- The closing date for online applications is 31 August each year.
- As part of the online application process, each candidate must submit:
a) A Personal Statement (using the prescribed template) that sets out the following:
(i) Academic achievements;
(ii) Future aspirations and motivation to succeed at University;
(iii) Community Engagement and commitment to the Pacific community.
- Each candidate must also request the submission of:
a) An online Academic Assessment which is to be completed by the candidate’s
Secondary School Principal or their nominee; and
b) A reference attesting to the candidate’s activities and roles (especially those with a
Pacific focus) in the wider community. The referee must not be an immediate member
of the applicant’s family.
Selection Panel and Criteria
- The Selection Panel will comprise the Chair of the Scholarships Committee (or nominee) in
the Chair, the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pacific) or nominee, the Pacific Student Success
Coordinator, the Future Student Advisor – Pacific, and a Pacific staff member appointed by
the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pacific).
- In awarding the Scholarship, the Selection Panel will take into consideration academic
achievements, leadership experience at school and in the wider (especially Pacific)
community, and community and cultural involvement and activities, particularly engagement
with Pacific community/communities or concerns.
- The Selection Panel will consider the applications, and may contact referees on a
confidential basis for further relevant information.
- The Selection Panel’s decisions are final and no further correspondence will be entered into
following the selection meeting.
- The Selection Panel may refrain from making a recommendation if it finds no applicants of
sufficient merit.
- Other Conditions
- Successful applicants will be advised of the offer of a Scholarship via their MyWaikato portal
and must accept the offer by the prescribed date or the offer will lapse. If a Scholarship offer
is declined or lapses, the Selection Panel may offer the Scholarship to another applicant.
- Recipients must remain enrolled full-time for the period of tenure. Should a recipient
withdraw from any papers, without adding sufficient papers to maintain an overall enrolment
in a minimum of 120 points for the academic year, the University may ask for the Scholarship
to be repaid.
- Recipients who take up this Scholarship are expected to complete at least four trimesters of
study at the University of Waikato. Those who withdraw their enrolment before the end of
this period will normally be required to pay back the full sum of monies received.
- The Scholarship may be held with any other scholarship, award or prize, unless the
conditions of the other award preclude this.
- In accepting the Scholarship, the recipient will be deemed to have read, understood, and
accepted the conditions of the Scholarship and the Scholarships Policy.
- The Scholarships Committee may terminate this Scholarship at any time, and recoup any
funds disbursed, if the holder withdraws from the University of Waikato, brings the
Scholarship, University or Sponsor into disrepute4
, or is otherwise not complying with the
conditions governing the Scholarship and/or the regulations of the University of Waikato.
The holder of a Scholarship shall have the right to appeal to the Scholarships Executive
against any decision to terminate the Scholarship.
- By accepting the Scholarship, the recipient agrees to participate in any publicity concerning
the Scholarship arranged by the University of Waikato.
- The Scholarships Committee has the power to amend or vary these regulations, provided
that there is no departure from the main purpose of the Scholarship.
Apply Online or visit : Official Website
Due date
- The closing date for online applications is 31 August each year.