We are thrilled to announce the establishment of a new Scholarship Endowment Fund with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation. This legacy has been created by a family with deep roots in Kawerau, having lived in the community during the 1970s and 80s. Though their professional journeys eventually took them to Auckland and Wellington, their connection to the town where their children attended school remains strong.
The primary goal of this scholarship is to provide a "hand up" to Tarawera High School students as they transition to university. By reducing the financial barriers associated with higher education, the donors hope to encourage more local young people to view university as a viable and exciting path for their future.
The motivation for this fund is deeply personal. One of the donors grew up in a large, low-income household in the Waikato. Through the opportunity of a university education, he was able to build a successful and rewarding career. He now wishes to afford that same life-changing opportunity to a student from Kawerau, ensuring that financial circumstances do not stand in the way of potential.
This Scholarship is for students from Tarawera High School for study at a Tertiary level, studying Engineering, Computer Science or a similar/related technical field will be open for applications in August 2026 for students planning to study in 2027.
Kawerau has a proud history of residents looking out for one another. This new scholarship joins the Kawerau Community Fund and the Mountain View Fund as a testament to that enduring spirit of local support.
