Destiny Stuart Awarded Ngāti Toa Iwi Scholarship

Destiny Stuart (Ngāti Toa Rangatira) has been awarded the Ngāti Toa Scholarship at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), recognising her commitment to education, te reo Māori, and reconnecting with her whakapapa.

While studying towards a Bachelor of Teaching through the University of Canterbury, Destiny began a journey of self-discovery, exploring her identity and strengthening her connection to her Māori heritage. Through this process, she realised she wanted to deepen her understanding of te reo Māori and reconnect with her culture.

Earlier this year, Destiny attended a Ngāti Toa reo wānanga at Whakatū Marae, where participants developed personal reo plans. Inspired by the experience, she enrolled in the Level 1 New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo Māori at NMIT. Alongside her teaching degree and the responsibilities of being a single mother, she attends weekly evening classes.

For Destiny, learning te reo Māori is about more than personal growth. She hopes to help reconnect her whānau with the language after it was lost through recent generations. While her grandparents and tūpuna were speakers of te reo Māori, the language was not passed down to her mother’s generation or her own.

By reclaiming her reo, Destiny hopes to honour her tūpuna, strengthen her connection to whakapapa, and help ensure te reo Māori is carried forward for future generations.

Destiny Stuart pictured with her whānau recently received the Ngāti Toa Rangatira Scholarship

Destiny’s long-term goal is to become confident and fluent in te reo Māori and eventually teach within a Māori-medium or bilingual learning environment. She hopes to become a kaiako who can naturally weave te reo Māori into everyday teaching and learning, creating opportunities for tamariki to connect with the language and culture.

The scholarship will provide valuable support as she continues her studies. Alongside her teaching degree and te reo Māori studies, Destiny has also been accepted for a teaching opportunity in Japan later this year through the University of Canterbury.

Congratulations Destiny on this well-deserved achievement, we wish you every success as you continue your educational and language learning journey.