Sir Hugh Kawharu and RHT Bates Scholarship winners

Sir Hugh Kawharu Masters Scholarship

The Sir Hugh Kawharu Scholarship for Innovation in Science is a $10,000 scholarship for study at masters level in the sciences. The Scholarship is applicable across a broad range of science disciplines including the physical, mathematical and computational, earth, environment, marine, social, health, biological, biomedical, human, and behavioural sciences. 

The latest recipient is Tiana Edwards (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Pahauwera, Tatau Tatau ki te Wairoa), of Otakou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago, for a Masters of Science in Environmental Management.

Kia Ora! 
Ko Tāwhirirangi te Maunga
Ko Mohaka te Awa
Ko Takitimu te Waka 
Ko Waipapa-a-iwi te marae
Ko Ngāti Pāhauwera te iwi.
Ko Tiana Edwards Ahau

"I am honoured and humbled to receive the 2025 Sir Hugh Kawharu Masters Scholarship for Innovation in Science. I am currently a Master of Science student in Environmental Management at the University of Otago. My thesis focuses on developing a holistic typology for active dune systems.

"A key part of my research is ensuring that both Western science and mātauranga Māori are meaningfully integrated. Active dunes are not only ecologically significant but also wāhi taonga, and their management must reflect the values, knowledge, and responsibilities of mana whenua. By embedding Māori perspectives, tikanga, and principles of kaitiakitanga into the typology, I hope to support more equitable and culturally-grounded outcomes for environmental decision-making.

"It is my aspiration that this work contributes to a wider movement in Aotearoa – where environmental frameworks are shaped by dual world views, honouring both scientific rigour and Indigenous knowledge, so that future policies better protect our ecosystems and uphold the mana of the whenua and its people.

"Ngā mihi."

— Tiana Edwards

RHT Bates Postgraduate Scholarship

This Scholarship is an annual award worth $6,000 for a PhD in the Physical Sciences and Engineering at a New Zealand university.

The latest recipient is George Harpur, of Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland, for his research on advanced cardiac strain imaging and quantification at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute.

"Heart disease is the biggest medical burden globally, and here in Aotearoa New Zealand, it is responsible for more than 30% of all deaths. Improving diagnostic and prognostic tools has the potential to transform outcomes for those at risk or living with heart disease.

"Over the next few years, I will be focused on developing tools that provide clinicians with metrics that reduce this burden. By applying model-based methods to clinical and advanced non-invasive imaging techniques, we can get a full picture of how a patient’s heart is functioning in a fast, automated and reproducible way.

"With the help of the RHT Bates Postgraduate Scholarship, I am excited to collaborate with world leading experts and significantly improve the lives of those affected by heart disease."

— George Harpur