Maori Business Achievement & Scholarship Rewarded

Maori Business Achievement And Scholarship Rewarded

Sir Howard Morrison’s achievements as a professional entertainer and community leader have been recognised by The University of Auckland Business School’s Outstanding Maori Business Leader Award. Meanwhile the 2004 Dame Mira Szászy Maori Business Leaders Alumni Award has gone to former international cricketer and current art investment company manager, Adam Parore.

The Business School has also awarded nine Kelly Scholarships to assist outstanding students who demonstrate high academic and leadership promise. Worth a total of $2 million, the scholarships will be awarded annually for the next 15-20 years and are designed to support outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to study at the Business School. One million dollars of the total has been set aside for students of Maori descent.

Associate Dean of Maori and Pacific Development at the Business School, Manuka Henare, paid tribute to the achievements of Sir Howard and Mr Parore, which were recognised – along with the Kelly Scholars – at the Business School’s annual Maori Business Leaders Alumni Dinner on Wednesday evening (September 22).

“Sir Howard has been at the forefront of the entertainment business for nearly 50 years in New Zealand and Australia, maintaining excellent business relationships while generating employment for thousands of people.”

Dr Henare said Mr Parore, a BCom/LLB graduate of the Business School, was recognised firstly for his business career and achievements as a professional sportsman, and secondly for his career in investment advice and development of his art investment company.

Dr Henare says he hopes the Kelly Scholars – both Maori and non-Maori – will go on to contribute as positively as Sir Howard and Mr Parore to New Zealand business and society.

Scholarship benefactor, US investment banker and Northland business owner Paul Kelly, says he wants to make the benefits of a tertiary education available to all people with the commitment and determination to take advantage of it.

“These scholarships are awarded to those who show a commitment to use their knowledge to contribute to society throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand and the world by applying their skills to improve the lives of others.”

Scholarship winners receive between $3500 and $25,000 pa for between one and three years, and include undergraduate through to doctoral students.

[A full list of scholarship winners is given below]

In addition to the Kelly Scholarships and the Maori Business Leader Award, the Business School provides a range of programmes, degree courses and scholarships that specifically address the place of Maori in New Zealand’s business sector.

Maori and Pacific Island students at the Business School are supported through programmes such as Mana and Te Tuakana, designed to provide mentoring, study skills support, and leadership development.

The Business School has also established partnerships with the business community aimed at delivering quality tertiary degree offerings beyond Auckland. The current year has been particularly fruitful with the extension of the Huanga Maori Business Development Masters Programme to Rotorua via video-conferencing technology. The Rotorua class joins others in Kawakawa, the Bay of Islands and Auckland.

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