I am a wahine Māori and at the age of 50, I was having overwhelming emotions to fulfill my spirituality to hear and feel myself speak the voice of my Māori bloodline, Te Reo Rangatira. Hence, I embarked on my journey to make this happen.
In 2005, I enrolled at Rawene Northtec Campus, studying under the umbrella of Te Puna Mātauranga, Te Reo Rangatira O Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu, this being an absolutely superb introduction as a first-time student of Te Reo Rangatira. Also, passing with full marks and a certificate of Te PŌkaitahi Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu - Te Pipitanga was very encouraging.
With the strong support and driving motivation of our kind tutor Pita Shelford, it felt natural to move on to the next stage, that being the two-year diploma, Te PŌkairua Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu (Te Puna 2006) and Te PŌkairua Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu (Te Awa 2007).
In 2006, knowing that the phenomenal fees would be taken care of by this wonderful scholarship, I was able to study contentedly throughout that year, ending up with top marks and a certificate of Te PŌkairua Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu - Te Awa 2007.
Consequently, this year I was awarded the scholarship for the second year to complete my qualification. This just blew my mind and again helped me to strive strongly towards the end of the year.
I have currently started my very last assignment and also have received all my completed assignments back with full passes. I will be receiving my diploma in March 2008 at a graduation ceremony to be held at the Forum in Whangarei.
As a positive continuation for academics, myself and Māoridom in the Hokianga and following advice from Jane Scripps (ACE and Short Awards Coordinator) I applied to become an ACE (Adult Community Education) Tutor at Rawene Northtec Campus, with my sights set on the Basic Beginners in Te Reo Rangatira O Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu Certificate incorporated with the Basic Beginners Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu - Weaving (Rāranga) Certificate.
I met with Gary Leaf (Executive General Manager of Te Puna O Te Mātauranga - Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu) and Hemoata Henare (Rāranga Coordinator and Head Tutor, Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu) on 19 October 2007. I am thrilled to advise I have been accepted to go straight to the second-year Rāranga Diploma 2008 in Whangarei. It is compulsory for me to know and apply the set criteria in this field of weaving to my future students, as this information will be imperative to enable them to move comfortably on to the second-year diploma course.
I am a mother of three wonderful, independent adult daughters and a teenage son, who is doing himself and our family proud at Kura Kaupapa. I also have two very beautiful and clever granddaughters, Mia (5) and Layla (1).
I was always a keen sports person (back in the day). These days, I am still active with a 20 minute workout of Tae Bo, Pilates or Turbo Jam almost every morning. With raging now a thing of the past, I enjoy going to ballroom dancing lessons once a week, which is absolutely the best thing out. Living next to a tidal river, swimming and kayaking are tops for the leisurely summer sports.
In my years of living in the Hokianga, one of the favourite things I enjoy is making and donating the large laundry flax baskets and the smaller flax bowls for the many different fundraising events our community often has.

Kia ora
My name is Marcelle Stewart and I am of Te Arawa, Ngati Kawiti and Ngati Tamatea Tu Taki descent. I live with my wonderful supportive partner in Dunedin. I am a very grateful recipient of the Ngārimu VC & 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship, which I received in 2006.
I graduated from Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Nursing at the end of 2006. Choosing to study in my late twenties was more challenging due to the financial costs and the lengthy time that I had been out of the education system. Receiving the scholarship provided me with a source of motivation and lessened the burden of the financial costs of studying.
Theatre nursing was the speciality that I was interested in when I began my nursing degree and fortunately, in 2007 I was accepted into a New Graduate programme in the Operating Department at Mercy Hospital in Dunedin. As part of this programme, I also took on a Post Graduate speciality practice paper through Victoria University. What I love about the operating theatre is that that an individual's health can be greatly improved by a minor or major operation. I also have a passion for bioscience and place a high value on the knowledge I have gained through my nursing education. I also love working as part of a small team that knows how to work efficiently together. In surgery the relationship with the patient is quite unique however I have strong beliefs about how a patient should be treated no differently than if they were conscious. This includes maintaining as much privacy and dignity as practical and practicing at the highest standard at all times.
In nine months I have acquired hundreds of knew skills that I previously did not have and most importantly I have gained confidence to practice as a registered nurse. After this short time I know I have much more to learn, but despite this I feel I have the ability to build on and enhance new skills that will forever be with me in my future nursing career.
Making the decision to change career and begin full time study was extremely challenging, but more so it has been immensely rewarding. Anyone who is considering changing career or commencing study, I would say if you have the motivation and the support go for it! And if you are thinking of applying for a scholarship you should make the effort; I did and I am very thankful that I was accepted.
Once again, I want to take the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the Board members and staff of The Māori Education Trust for giving me the opportunity to apply for the Ngārimu VC & 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship and for being a successful recipient.

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