Nau mai ki te paetukutuku nei o te Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation
The Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation is a charitable trust established to support Māori tertiary students who aspire to leadership.
Learn more about our alumni and hear their stories:
2022 - 2017
2017 - 2014
He Pitopito kōrero
Jenna McLachlan (Ngāi Tahu)
Master of Public Policy (MPP), University of Oxford
Jenna is the recipient of the Kawharu Scholarship for Innovation in Science for 2024. Jenna is undertaking a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford – focusing on pathways and policies to respond to the demands of climate change and reduce carbon emissions. At Oxford, Jenna aims to strengthen her understanding of how effective environmental policies are developed and communicated and have scope to analyse Aotearoa New Zealand’s resource management framework from a global position. Jenna intends to return to Aotearoa, equipped with a practical foundation to develop meaningful solutions to complex socio-environmental issues.
Kawharu Foundation chair Amokura Kawharu comments that,
“Jenna is an exceptional person. She gained outstanding grades in her undergraduate studies and has already started on her leadership journey through her recent work in public policy. Her desire to complete an MPP at Oxford University underscores her commitment to leading meaningful change.”
Jenna McLachlan
The Foundation continues Sir Hugh's legacy by supporting future Māori leaders and empowering them to make a positive impact on their communities and wider society.
Background
The Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation is a charitable trust that has been established to advance and support Māori leadership and achievement. The Foundation is named after Sir Hugh Kawharu (1927-2006), who made significant contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand society throughout his lifetime.
The Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for Māori students who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential. The Foundation's commitment to supporting Māori education is a key step towards building a more inclusive and equitable future for all New Zealanders.
Sir Hugh Kawharu speaking at the opening of Waipapa Marae, University of Auckland in 1988. (Professor Hugh Kawharu by Maureen Launder, Anthropology Photographic Archive, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0.)
The Foundation supports emerging Māori leaders through graduate and post graduate scholarships across a range of fields. We also sponsor Māori participation in leadership programmes.