About
Northland Regional Council’s Tū i te ora Scholarship recognises and supports students to undertake study, research or training that relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions – providing a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions, whilst contributing to council’s vision ‘Tiakina te taiao, tuia te here tangata – Nurture the environment, bring together the people’.
The scholarship aims to:
- Build Māori capacity within Te Taitokerau and assist students to pursue further education.
- Encourage greater uptake of tertiary education aimed at protecting the environment.
- Develop connections between tertiary students and council.
- Provide support to students experiencing financial hardship and difficulties.
- Encourage mātauranga Māori research and education.
Scholarship value
There are six scholarships available – each includes $4,000 to assist with study costs plus paid work experience with Northland Regional Council from mid-November 2025 to mid-February 2026.
Three scholarship packages are dedicated to Māori (who whakapapa to Te Taitokerau).
Eligibility criteria
The scholarship is available to students who:
- Are a NZ citizen or permanent resident
- Reside in, have family that reside in or have whakapapa (a genealogical connection) to Te Taitokerau (according to Northland Regional Council’s operational boundaries).
- Are studying at an undergraduate or higher qualification level
- Are enrolled (or intend to enrol) in a recognised tertiary course of study that relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions. Applicants must be enrolled (or intend to enrol) or semester one of 2025.
- Have not previously received the Tū i te ora Scholarship.
- Are not employed by Northland Regional Council in a full-time, part-time or fixed-term role.
- Can commit to the summer work experience (mid-November 2025 to mid-February 2026).
Council’s environmental and regulatory functions include these areas:
- Biodiversity
- Biosecurity
- Climate change
- Environmental planning and policy
- Environmental science and data analysis
- Flood and natural hazard engineering and management
- Geographic information system (GIS)
- Land management
- Water management
Selection criteria
When assessing applications, the panel may take into consideration any/all of the following:
- Academic merit
- Whakapapa to Te Taitokerau
- Community involvement
- Financial need
- Relevance of studies (to council’s environmental and regulatory functions).
Short-listed applicants are required to attend an interview with Northland Regional Council representatives. Interviews may be facilitated in-person at council’s Whangārei office or virtually, depending on each applicant’s circumstances.
Successful applicants will be advised of the result of their application via phone call and unsuccessful applicants will be advised via email.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online by Thursday 13 February 2025.
To apply, visit: scholarships.nrc.govt.nz
For more information: