Category: Alumni

Congratulations to AUT engineering student Maja Ranzinger who is the inaugural recipient of the KEECT Watercare and Ghella Abergeldie partnership Engineering Award, established by the Kate Interceptor Project.  In July 2020, the project unveiled the training tunnel boring machine (TBM), named KATE in honour of Kate Edger.  Read more here

This engineering scholarship is worth $5000 and the Trust partnered with the University of Auckland’s Women in Engineering Network and AUT Stem Women Group to finalise the winner.  Applicants were judged based on their GPA scores, initiative, passion and extra-curricular interests.

Central Interceptor’s sustainability and community outcomes manager Bernice Chiam, who was on the selection committee, says she was very impressed by the standard of the applicants.  “It was a challenge to pick just one winner, but Maja really impressed us with her ambition and work ethic.”

Maja is a second-year student at AUT, doing a double degree – bachelor’s in mechanical engineering as well as a bachelor’s in business studies majoring in Finance.  “I’ve always wanted to do a double degree and this scholarship means I don’t have to worry about the tuition so much – I can just focus on completing my course work successfully.”

After receiving the news of her award, Maja (centre) came to Academic Dress Hire to meet with Watercare Executive Programme Director, Shayne Cunis, Sustainability and Community Outcomes Manager, Bernice Chiam, Ghella Abergeldie Project Director, Francesco Saibene, and representatives from the KEECT Nina Tomaszyk (GM), Katrina Ford (Awards Coordinator), and Margaret Worth (Selection Panelist).

Tena koutou katoa.

My name is Marian. It is a privilege and an honour to be standing before you this afternoon. Congratulations to all the awardees.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Trustees on behalf of all the awardees. Thank you to Stephanie Harris, Margaret Crannigan Allen, Dame Charmian O’Connor, Sonia Pechner, Jill Smith, Hilary Lewis, Professor Linda Bryder, and the General Manager of the Trust, Nina Tomaszyk .  Because of you we are here today celebrating our incredible achievements.  I would also like to thank the awards coordinator Dr Katrina Ford for her hard work, and to thank every single person who has made today possible. 

I am a former refugee; I came to New Zealand when I was 10 years old and I have been here for over 20 years.   When I came to New Zealand, I could not speak English; I could not read or write. I feel privileged to have been educated in New Zealand because had I been in my home country, Somalia, I certainly would not have had that opportunity.

My education journey would be very different if it were not for the support of my family, especially my mother, who is in the audience today. She would stay up every night for me until I came home from uni. Sometimes it was very late at night, but she would still be awake waiting for me.  She always reminded me to look after myself and to look after my mental health.  Unfortunately, my mother did not get the opportunities that I have today; nevertheless, she understood the importance of education and has ensured my siblings and I have obtained the best education possible.  

The primary purpose of the Kate Edger Charitable Trust Awards is to provide funds for the promotion, advancement and encouragement of education amongst women, whether it be in the spheres of research and professional activities or artistic and creative activities.  It is a charitable trust whose main purpose is to help women achieve their educational goals, through the provision of scholarships, financial and other assistance. The awards have made it possible for all of us to continue with our education and to keep going and to reach our goals and aspirations. For me personally, it has meant that I did not have to work while also studying full-time and raising two young children.   

We all know the value and importance of education.  Education allows us to gain knowledge, and be critical thinkers. It empowers us and gives us the skills we need to make the world a better place. Education makes us better able to deal with adversity, and the more knowledge we gain the more opportunities will open to us, giving us better possibilities in our lives. 

Thank you and I hope that you all enjoy your afternoon.  

Aryan McKay (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai, Ngāti Porou)

Kia ora. My name is Aryan McKay (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai, Ngāti Porou). I grew up in Te Taitokerau (Northland) and currently live in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) with my husband and four tamariki (children). I am currently pursuing a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at Massey University and I am the very grateful recipient of a Kate Edger Charitable Trust’s First Year Doctoral Award. 

I am also a published poet and experienced musician with a particular interest in the therapeutic benefits of Māori creative practices. This interest has been fuelled by my own experience using music as a healing tool to overcome depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia. For my doctoral thesis I am exploring Māori perspectives on the hauora hinengaro (psychological) benefits and therapeutic applications of taonga pūoro (Māori musical instruments). I have been asked to share a little bit about my progress so far. 

Most of my year has been focused on conceptualisation. I know that if I can get this right from the start things will flow more smoothly later on. I landed quite early on a general area of inquiry (i.e., Māori music and hauora). However, finding the specific way I can best contribute to this space has been a long and winding journey.

Some of that journey has involved reviewing the existing literature about the hauora hinengaro benefits of taonga pūoro and related practices. While there have not been many academic studies focused specifically on the use of taonga pūoro in this context, robust evidence supports the benefits of related practices (e.g. kapa haka, indigenous sound healing, music therapy). There is also a growing body of research that highlights the health and wellbeing benefits of music from a neuroscience perspective.

Another essential part of my process has been consulting kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face to face) with my supervisors, kaumātua, mātauranga Māori experts, Kaupapa Māori research experts, and members of the taonga pūoro community. Through this, I’ve been able to expand my knowledge about taonga pūoro, find out about other taonga pūoro research projects, and build collaborative relationships with key taonga pūoro makers, players and researchers. A lot of this took place at various wānanga (learning gatherings) around the country, which I was able to attend thanks to your financial support.

The final key contributor to my progress has been starting to immerse myself in making and playing taonga pūoro and documenting how this practice supports my hauora hinengaro and my whānau’s hauora hinengaro. This has been particularly salient during lockdown. Playing taonga pūoro has been a great way to relieve the normal anxiety and high emotions that can arise in this situation. Experiencing these benefits first-hand has helped me gain a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed during wānanga and in the literature.

I am looking forward to completing the first draft of my literature review, gaining ethics approval, holding my confirmation event, and starting recruitment over the next few months. Thank you so much for your support.