The scholarship is awarded to students enrolling in the first year of a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland and is worth $5,000 per annum for up to five years.

The main purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage and support Māori and Pacific students to study Architecture at the University of Auckland. Alongside financial support, Hiwa will be offered a two-week internship at Jasmax for each year of her study.

Jasmax, CEO, Sjoerd Post, says:

“At Jasmax we believe that the Tiriti o Waitangi between mana whenua and tangata tiriti offers a powerful opportunity to create architecture and design that is unique to Aotearoa. Supporting students through their architecture degree and into practice is an important way Jasmax can contribute to greater numbers of indigenous practitioners entering the industry.”

Hiwa (Ngati Tamatera, Pukenga, Ngati Ranginui, Tainui), attended Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Maungarongo. She says it is inspiring to see more opportunities for Māori and Pacific students, and to be a part of it:

“As a young Māori woman, I believe that excellence in te ao Māori, combined with academic excellence, must be interwoven to stand strong in your responsibility as a Rangatira of tomorrow. Like a mirror, I aspire for my future career as an architect to reflect my cultural presence, my space, my people, my area.”

In 2015 Jasmax set up an in-house incubation unit, Waka Māia, to provide an authentically Māori design voice within Jasmax. Led by Principal and University of Auckland alumna, Elisapeta Heta. Jasmax explains that the in-house incubation unit Waka Māia has influenced the design direction of projects significantly and in turn has shaped the practice’s values from a wider, cultural standpoint.

This is the third year the Jasmax Architecture Scholarship for Māori and Pacific Students has been offered. Students can apply for the scholarship near the end of the year with applications being accepted over a six-week period.