Pou Herenga Tangata Award

Supporting rangatahi towards community leadership

In Te Ao Māori, rangatira are often extolled for their ability to bind people together. In this way, they are likened to a mooring post upon which many waka may tie their lines. Through their steadfast nature and values-driven actions, these pillars bring communities together.

This award recognises the contributions of the late Norm Dewes to Tapuwae Roa (then Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust), and to his community. These contributions have taken different forms throughout his close association with the Trust from its conception, as a previous Chair and director of the Trust, and as a life-time advocate for Māori living the urban experience.

In his many decades of service to his community, Matua Norm embodied this award. The post to which people bind their mooring ropes, providing stability in unity.

About the award

The Pou Herenga Tangata Award offers five, $5,000 grants to support rangatahi Māori to pursue their leadership aspirations through the delivery of community-driven initiatives. Available as an individual or organisation application, this fund supports our rangatahi (aged 16-24) who are actively leading or looking to establish kaupapa in their community.

What types of kaupapa are eligible?

Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Rangatahi-led or rangatahi-focused:

    • wānanga, workshops or events

    • Mental health, hauora or identity-based kaupapa

    • Creative projects (e.g. theatre, film, art) with community impact

    • Tikanga Māori or reo Māori revitalisation initiatives

    • leadership development or training

    • Community service or kaupapa Māori education projects

What kaupapa are not eligible?

  • Kaupapa that are not rangatahi-led or rangatahi-focused

  • Individual academic study

  • Business aspirations and startup costs 

  • Projects that have already been fully completed

The award’s core purpose is to support rangatahi Māori to deepen their connection and contribution to their community. Awardees must be either:

  • Rangatahi Māori (aged 16-24 years)
    • Who are actively demonstrating a leadership role in their community, or aspire to lead a kaupapa in their community.

OR

  • Organisations that meet the following criteria:
    • Be a non-government organisation, registered charity, marae or hapū group, or collective of Māori individuals who have come together and meet the requirements of this category
    • Meet the minimum reporting requirements of a Tier 4 entity. More on this here.
    • Financially solvent
    • Demonstrated support from their community to deliver, or currently deliver (or propose to develop) kaupapa Māori initiatives that specifically target and support the development of rangatahi Māori to become leaders in their communities
    • Can demonstrate clear outcomes towards creating “future leaders armed with ancient wisdom”

Required documents

To apply for this scholarship, fill out the online application form and supply the following documents:

  • A short moemoea description providing information on what you or your organisation wishes to achieve with this funding, and the proposed path of achieving these aspirations (max 2,000 characters, approximately 300-350 words)

  • A letter of endorsement from a referee
  • A short ‘cover video’ (120 seconds) outlining/illustrating the following:
    • An overview of your kaupapa
    • How you aim to serve your community, and your commitment to them
    • How you will deliver positive outcomes for rangatahi Māori.

Application process and timings

You must complete and submit an online application by August 28th, 2025

A selection panel will consider applications on their merit against the purpose of the Pou Herenga Tangata Award and Tapuwae Roa’s impact outcomes.

The successful candidate will be notified by September 12th, 2025 and announced via Tapuwae Roa’s website and associated social media channels.

Terms and Conditions

By applying for the Pou Herenga Tangata Award you will accept the following:

  • You agree that the information provided in your application and the supporting document is correct in all respects and represents the true nature of your application.
  • You consent to Tapuwae Roa – and/or the selection panel contacting you and/or anyone named in this application to verify or obtain further information if this is required, or to seek clarification on any information provided therein.
  • You agree to provide further information pertaining to any questions of your application is true and correct.
  • You agree to abide by the rules relative to this application.
  • You agree that Tapuwae Roa may publish your name publicly as a recipient if successful.
  • You agree that Tapuwae Roa may report on and publish content of your use of the scholarship/grant.
  • You agree to refund in full any monies paid by Tapuwae Roa if you have not used the funds for the express purposes as outlined in your application.

Terms of accepting funds

By accepting funding from Tapuwae Roa you will accept the following:

  • You agree that the information provided in your acceptance form and the supporting document is true and correct. 
  • You accept that as a recipient of the fund, Tapuwae Roa will make a one-off payment into the nominated bank you have detailed in your acceptance form.
  • You agree that the funds received will be utilised within 12 months and that the funding cannot be deferred to a subsequent date or used for other purposes than what was detailed in your application.
  • You agree to Tapuwae Roa publishing your name or organisation’s name and associated imagery, and agree for the funded project to feature across all Tapuwae Roa marketing and communication channels.
  • You agree to fulfil some media requirements (e.g quotes for press releases) in regard to the project you are receiving funding prior to, during, or following the completion of the funded programme. 
  • You agree to provide the Tapuwae Roa with a final report within one month of the completion of the project or within 12 months (whichever comes sooner) and give permission for excerpts of the report and videography/photography used within it to be published across our communications channels. This report is submitted via Tapuwae Roa’s Funding Accountability Portal and includes detail on the following: An overview of the completed funded project, main goals and expectations of the project, key outcomes, who was involved in the project, what were the key successes and learnings, what are the hopes and dreams for this kaupapa going forward. 
  • You agree to refund in full and monies paid by Tapuwae Roa if you have not used the funds for the express purposes as outlined in your application or fail to provide accountability on how the funding was utilised within 12 months. 

Tapuwae Roa (formally, Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust) was established under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004 as part of the settlement of Māori fishing rights claims. As an independent charitable trust, its role is to provide strategic leadership in education, training, and workforce development for Māori, and to manage the Trust’s fund made available for these purposes. Tapuwae Roa has a particular obligation to ensure benefits are made available to all Māori and give regard to Māori who do not associate with their iwi and/or do not receive benefits from a Mandated Iwi Organisation. 

A Pou Herenga Tangata Awardee will embody and promote the characteristics invoked by the term Pou Herenga Tangata; a pillar that binds people together, within their community, whānau, hapū or social group.

Successful awardees, in addition to the grant, become part of Ngā Auahitūroa – Tapuwae Roa’s Alumni network of over 300 diverse, passionate, and highly talented Māori throughout Aotearoa.

To find out more about previous recipients, click here.

Applications for the 2025 funding rounds are now open.