The Government is today delivering on one of its commitments as part of the New Zealand Governmentโs Dawn Raids apology, welcoming a cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand participating in the He Manawa Tฤซtฤซ Scholarship Programme.
This cohort will participate in a bespoke leadership training programme that supports partner countries to build knowledge and skills.
โOn August 1 2021 the New Zealand Government offered a formal apology for the 1970โs Dawn Raids, and today marks another new chapter and step along the reconciliation journey as we strengthen our ties between Aotearoa New Zealand, tangata whenua and the Pacific,โ Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni said.
โIn welcoming this cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand, weโre embracing the opportunity to grow a generation of Pacific leaders that will gain the knowledge and understanding to make a difference to their communities and countries,โ Carmel Sepuloni said.
โFifty years on from the Dawn Raids, the Pacific story continues to evolve, and these scholarships underline our Governmentโs ongoing commitment to fostering pathways and opportunities for Pacific peoples to contribute to the chapters of that story.
โAs part of that story, strong and balanced leadership, across all sectors of society, is critical to the sustainable development of Pacific Island nations. The nations of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, from which the emerging leaders come from, will be well-served by fruits of this scholarship programme.
โHe Manawa Tฤซtฤซ scholarships take their name from the Mฤori whakatauki meaning โa person of great endurance,โ and aim to increase leadership knowledge and skills for emerging Pacific leaders in the public, private and voluntary sectors; and enhance public and civil society sector efficiency and effectiveness,โ Carmel Sepuloni said.
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds has heralded the new cohort as another step forward towards a more united Pacific future across Aotearoa New Zealand.
โThrough delivering on our reconciliation commitments, we are strengthening our ties with our wider Pacific whฤnau and ensuring that we truly learn from our past,โ Barbara Edmonds said.
โThis programme complements existing long-term reconciliation efforts including, the Ministry of Educationโs Tulฤซ Takes Flight scholarships offered for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand and theTeu le Va – Dawn Raids History Community Fund.
โAs our Pacific story continues to evolve, these scholarships provide an opportunity to build proud and confident Pacific leaders who can support our communities here and in our region to thrive,โ Barbara Edmonds said.
โMinster Edmonds and I look forward to following these scholars and their leadership achievements throughout the He Manawa Tฤซtฤซ training programme, and over the coming yearsโ Carmel Sepuloni said.
He Manawa Tฤซtฤซ scholarships form part of the goodwill gesture of reconciliation marking the New Zealand Governmentโs apology for the Dawn Raids. These Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade scholarships, developed for Pacific peoples in the Pacific, complement the Ministry of Educationโs Tulฤซ Takes Flight scholarships offered for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The twenty-eight recipients, aged between 25 and 35, will be in Aotearoa New Zealand for just over two months for the He Manawa Tฤซtฤซ scholarships leadership training programme.