Scholarship supports next generation of rangatahi Maaori communicators

The Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) Waikato committee has announced the recipients of the 2025 PRINZ Waikato Matariki Scholarship, celebrating the talent and potential of rangatahi Maaori in the region.

The scholarship, which is run in partnership with Waikato-Tainui, provides mentoring, support and career pathways into public relations and communications careers for young Maaori students and professionals in the region.

This year’s recipients, Paea Begman and Olivia Pitiroi-Gowling, were announced at ‘He Ara Whakamua: Careers in Comms’, a PRINZ Waikato event held at the University of Waikato last month. The event was created and led by 2024 scholarship recipient, Terah McCarthy, a third-year student from the University of Waikato.

Paea and Olivia will each receive a one-year PRINZ membership, mentoring from a senior Waikato communications professional, networking opportunities including being part of the PRINZ Waikato committee, and the chance to lead a PRINZ event for local rangatahi and/or the local communications community next year.

Scholarship recipients building careers with purpose
Olivia Pitiroi-Gowling (Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tainui, Te Paepae o Rarotonga), 23, is studying for a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Waikato, majoring in Public Relations and Māori & Indigenous Studies. She holds a Diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi from the University, reflecting her passion for te reo and tikanga Maaori, and has worked in hospitality and healthcare. Olivia will be mentored by Donna-Lee Biddle (Ngāti Pikiao, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Maniapoto), a former Stuff journalist and senior investigator at Te Kāhui Tātari Tūre | Criminal Cases Review Commission in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.

Paea Begman (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine), 25, is a University of Otago Bachelor of Commerce graduate majoring in management with a communications minor. Her experience includes national hauora campaigns for rangatahi Maaori at Te Hiringa Hauora, and kaupapa Maaori creative and comms work at VMLY&R. Now a lab technician at Analytica Laboratories in Hamilton, Paea plans to pursue a career in public sector or iwi communications. She will be mentored by Erin Rangi-Watt (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Hikairo), a kaupapa Maaori engagement practitioner based in Kirikiriroa Hamilton with wide-ranging experience across central and local government.

Alumni of scholarship grows
The PRINZ Waikato Matariki Scholarship was established for PRINZ Waikato by local practitioners, with support from the Waikato-Tainui communications team.  It was initially inspired by conversations with local Maaori communications practitioners, who highlighted the opportunity to bring rangatahi into the profession with mentorship and connection.

For PRINZ Waikato, the scholarship reflects a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to supporting and uplifting the next generation of rangatahi Maaori, who have not traditionally been represented in the communications industry.

Tangiora Raumati was the foundation scholarship recipient in 2022 and has gone on to be a key supporter of the scholarship and its alumni group, alongside Maioha Panapa and Terah McCarthy. Paea and Olivia will now join the growing alumni of PRINZ Waikato Matariki Scholarship.

PRINZ Chief Executive Susanne Martin says the Waikato scholarship sets an example for other regions.

“It’s a model of how PRINZ can actively honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, foster young talent, and make meaningful change our industry. We are delighted to welcome Paea and Olivia to PRINZ and are thankful to their mentors and Waikato-Tainui for their support.”

Style note: this article uses the Waikato-Tainui convention of double vowels instead of macrons, as a mark of respect to our local iwi (except in cases where it is the name of an organisation or other iwi).