Maihi Potaka (Ngāti Hauiti, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Manawa) has been named the recipient of the 2019 Whakauae Pae Tawhiti Scholarship. The Scholarship is open to Māori students, with a record of proven academic excellence and demonstrated commitment to te ao Māori, who are undertaking Masters or PhD study in a health related field with a research focus on Hauora Māori.
Maihi was selected from among a strong field of 13 contenders. His selection was announced by Whakauae at the Ngāti Hauiti Hui a Tau held at Rātā Marae on Saturday 17 August 2019. Maihi is currently enrolled in the Māori Visual Arts programme at Massey University in the Manawatū. His Ngā Miro Whakaaturanga thesis practicum is focused on the role that Māori art has to play in healing and as rongoā.
A graduate of the Ngāti Hauiti He Whetū Arataki Rangatahi Leadership programme, Maihi went on to ‘give back' to the iwi through acting as a youth programme facilitator in 2012-2013, the years immediately following his graduation. In 2014, he enrolled at Massey University to begin his Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts degree which he completed in 2017 with first class honours. In 2018, Maihi went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts.
Whakauae looks forward to working alongside Maihi over the coming year to support his study as well as its potential contribution to the wellbeing of Ngāti Hauiti and of the wider Māori community.
