Taonga in Honour of Anthony Limbrick’s Support

Recently, Te Ara Tupua met with Anthony Limbrick to share the success stories of the Mākōtuku Scholarships and present him with Te Karu, a mataī taonga recognising the financial contribution he makes each year through Pure Capital to support the scholarships. Te Karu, meaning "the eyes see all," serves as a guardian that watches over the scholarships and the educational pathways of iwi tauira.

Kura Te Wanikau Tahana Tūroa, a tohunga whakairo, shared the story behind Te Karu. The taonga was inspired by the whakanui in Hereturikōkā 2024, where successful scholarship applicants had the opportunity to connect with trustees and share their narratives of learning successes, challenges, and opportunities where iwi support could make a difference.

The feathers on Te Karu symbolise the land and its people, while the red ochre binding represents the chiefly principles upheld by iwi. The carving patterns, known as pākura, flow through the rākau, representing the exchange of mātauranga and the evolving relationship between iwi and Anthony Limbrick that led to the creation of the scholarship programme. The modern bronzed finish of Te Karu, rather than traditional staining, reflects the forward-looking nature of the scholarship, symbolising the potential that scholarship recipients can realise through their educational journeys.

At the top of the taonga, an intricate wheku features three inset pounamu eyes, representing the tūpuna Uenuku, Tamakana, and Tamahaki—the ancestors from whom the scholarship recipients ascend. The pākura patterns then guide the flow of mātauranga to the younger generations. The pāua shell eyes at the base of the carving represent tamariki Jett and Milan Lepper, who digitally sent a mihi to the trustees for the whakanui. The reflective, iridescent nature of the pāuasymbolises the transition and rapid progress that young ākonga experience in their learning journeys.

Further down the rākau, three pearls are set into a whakapapa mount, inspired by Gabrielle Duncan, Maruata Ngarewa-Cribb, and Tiara Arahanga—the three wahine who shared their tertiary studies with the trustees at the whakanui. Kura described them as the "pearls of the tribe," having reached the pinnacle of their current learning.

At the base of the rākau, two purple karu rest in the head of the manaia, symbolising prestige, respect, and admiration for the achievements embodied by Te Karu and the Mākōtuku Scholarships.

In 2024, a total of $10,750 was allocated to 24 successful scholarship applicants. This included 9 primary school, 5 secondary school, and 10 tertiary scholarships. The youngest applicant was just 5 years old, while the furthest applicant was from Waihōpai (Invercargill), with the closest being from Raetihi School. Tertiary scholarship recipients pursued studies in law, health, education, social work, design, and kaikaranga. Meanwhile, younger learners requested support for areas such as uniforms, sports, digital access, transport, boarding fees, and tutoring.

The Mākōtuku Scholarships will soon open for applications for the 2025 academic year.