Supporting future engineering leaders

Auckland-raised Olivia, aged 19, and Bay of Islands 18-year-old Hunter were in 2025 each awarded a $40,000 scholarship named for the father of late Māori king Tūheitia Paki and funded by Waste Management. 

“The scholarship means I can juggle what’s often considered a high performance degree with a high-performance sporting life,” says Olivia, a medal-winning surf lifesaver and swimmer.

For Hunter, the scholarship “is a huge help” in keeping down his student loan. It will pay for most of his fees and, with earnings from working while he undertakes an engineering science degree, his flatting and transport expenses will be covered.

“It gives me peace of mind – I can focus on my studies without worrying about the financial cost of attending university.” 

In just her second year in civil engineering, former Green Bay High School student leader Olivia is already making a splash.

Describing herself as a practical person with a liking for physics and mathematics, she ‘fell for engineering’ and envisages working on projects involving coastal protection, water infrastructure or climate resilience for vulnerable communities.

‘Growing up in and around nature, especially through my sport of surf lifesaving and swimming, I have deep respect for the ocean and the environment. My ambition is to work on sustainable infrastructure projects, particularly in Māori and Pasifika communities in both Aotearoa and across the Pacific, where resilient culturally informed civil engineering solutions are most needed.

“My dream is to found or lead an engineering company that holds many of the values that Whatumoana Paki upheld such as kaitiakitanga.”

Her honours degree graduation might still be three years and ‘a lot of grit and determination’ away, but that’s not holding Olivia back from her watery pursuits.

The scholarship allows her to study and remain a full-time athlete, competing and getting podium finishes in surf lifesaving and swimming events up and down New Zealand and in Australia. She is a key figure at Piha Surf Life Saving Club on Auckland’s west coast.

“I don’t have to choose between the community volunteering I love as assistant club captain and patrol captain at Piha SLSC and paying for the costs of my studies through long hours of work.”

Olivia says qualifying for the scholarship called for high grades and demonstration of her community commitment.

“But the process helped me clarify why I am doing engineering in the first place as a Māori and Pasifika wahine.”

At school she often found herself a rarity in studying the STEM subjects science, technology, engineering and mathematics. That changed at university when she joined South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students (SPIES).

“SPIES has been invaluable in building bonds and experiences with other Māori and Pasifika wahine in STEM, showing that I can do it too.”

Hunter arrived at engineering through curiosity about the inner workings of machinery combined with the same attraction as Olivia to physics and maths while at Kerikeri’s Springbank School. Another sports-minded teen – he is a gym-goer and plays basketball – Hunter says his technical interest was sparked by his father. 

“He had a background in mechanics so I grew up around a man who could repair farm vehicles and cars and I think that inspired me as a kid to want to know how things work and why.”

He is still translating that into an engineering specialisation. 

“In my second year I am exploring the different pathways within engineering science and am particularly interested in how its strong analytical and problem-solving focus can be applied across a range of industries. Engineering science is a really broad degree so I’m keeping my options open in terms of future jobs. I think that as I spend more time at university and move further into my specialisation, I’ll get a better idea of what kind of role I want to work towards. In the long term I’m also interested in pursuing an MBA to further develop my technical background and enhance my business and leadership skills.”

As an antidote to coursework, Hunter says physical activity keeps his studies on track. 

“Whether it’s to take my mind off my university work or to get moving after sitting for long periods, being active helps me stay focused and motivated. Going to the gym and playing basketball give me a sense of accomplishment that carries over into my studies.”

Given the financial relief provided by the Whatumoana Paki Scholarship, Hunter and Olivia urge others to apply. They both acknowledge the generosity of Waste Management in putting up the money and also appreciate the validation that comes with it.

“I am extremely grateful to have received the scholarship and it means a lot to me,” Olivia says.

Says Hunter: “Knowing that an external organisation believes in and supports you is extremely rewarding.”