Scholarship Students

Māia-te-oho Holman-Wharehoka

Te Āti Awa, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Moeahu, Ngāti Haupoto, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Tunohopu
Bachelor of Building Science, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
NUWAO Masters Scholarship Student 2022.
Studying towards a Master of Building Science, VUW.

Kia Ora, I am working towards a Masters in Architectural Science majoring in sustainable engineering systems at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. My goals and aspirations involve encouraging and being involved in the evolvement of sustainable papakainga. My passion lies with my people and the land from which I come from, which has made falling into this project exciting.

Kahurangi Yakas

Ngāti Kaharau, Ngāti Hau
Bachelor of Architectural Studies Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
NUWAO Masters Scholarship Student 2023.
Studying towards a Master of Architecture (professional), VUW.

Kia Ora, my name is Kahurangi. I’m a small-town boy from the far north. I grew up in Kaikohe and made the move to Wellington to pursue a career in Architecture. I love my culture, outdoors, whānau and my people. I am currently in the final year of my masters in architecture. I plan to base my research around a self-sustaining papakāinga particularly in Ōmanaia where I am from. I am ambitious and keen to make a change to the world we live in through architecture.

Kirata Tekiera

I-Kiribati
Bachelor of Science, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
NUWAO Masters Scholarship Student 2022.
Studying towards a Master of Climate Change Science and Policy, VUW.

Just a typical Kiribati guy who lives happy, love to share jokes and to have fun despite living with the adverse impact of climate change on a daily basis. I am working at the Office of Te Beretitenti (President) in Kiribati as a National Climate Change Coordinator. Experiencing the impact of climate change first hand motivates and even given me the courage to stand alongside my countryman and fight to be resilient and to adapt. All, just to live happy, to be able to laugh and to share jokes with friends and families.

Willy Missack

Ni-Vanuatu
Bachelor of Sciences, Technologies, Health, Specialising in the Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Master of Sciences, Technologies, Health, Majoring in Environmental Sciences, Specialising in Integrated Environmental Management
NUWAO PhD Scholarship Student 2022 – 2024,
Studying towards a PhD, VUW.

Willy Missack will be working towards his PhD at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He was the Vanuatu Climate Action Network (VCAN) coordinator and Pacific Climate Change Collaboration Influence Learning (PACCCIL) Project Coordinator at Oxfam, Vanuatu and Vanuatu’s Negotiator on Adaptation and Loss and Damage since COP23. He is engaged in many climate change work in Vanuatu; and was first awarded youth of Vanuatu by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 with a Queen Young Leaders’ Award for its service to the Vanuatu community. At the regional level, he is serving as the Oceania Regional Coordinator for Conference Of Youth (COY16) and the One Young World (OYW) Coordinating Ambassador of the Pacific.