Sir Robert Gillies was the last surviving member of the Maori Battalion when he died last November.
Photo: RNZ / SAMUEL RILLSTONE
Peata Melbourne broadcaster is among this year’s recipients of Ngarimi VC and 28th Battalion Memorial Scholarship (Maori).
The awards ceremony in Parliament on Thursday included a special tribute to the late Sir Robert ‘Good’ Gillies, the last surviving member of the 28th Battalion (Maori) who died in November 2024.
Member of the Board of Scholarships, Dr. Reuben Collier, described Sir Robert as a lonely sentinel, carrying the Battalion’s cloak and legacy.
“Only last year did he died with the 99 -year -old mature age, just a little of his hundredth birthday, closing a chapter in the history of the New Zealand War, but ensuring that the battalion’s memory lived.”
This year, the 13th scholarship ingestion included a doctoral candidate, three master students, three undergraduate students and two education and professional training students. The ceremony also celebrated the winners of the 2024 video competition from Ngarimi and the inaugural composition competition of Ngarimi Waiata.
2025 Receiving scholarships
Doctoral
Peata Melbourne (Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata) – PhD in Marori Studies, Te Whare Wānanga The Awanuiārangi
Masters
Nina Noble (Ngāi Tahu) – Performance Master, Royal College of Music
Master’s Research in Education
Meana Dakin (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Porou) – Massey University
Rawiri Coleman (Ngāti Porou) – Te Whare Wānanga The Raukawa
Graduation
Elite reti (Muriwhenua, ngāti wai, ngāpuhi) – Bachelor of Law, University of Auckland
Hine Te Ariki Parata-Walker (ngāti porou, ngāi tahu, te aitanga-a-hauiti) -Medicine, University of Auckland
Jacqueline Te Kani-Nankivell (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi) -Law & Arts, University of Otago
Vocational Education and Training
Gabriella Keil (Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāi Tuhoe) – Nursing, Instituto Toi Ohomai
KATA O’DONNELL (NGāti Maru) – Rumaki Reo, Te Wānanga Takiura The Ngā Kura Kaupapa Maori
NGARIME Video Competition
Marlow Winder (Te Arawa)
Composition competition Ngarimi Waiata
Edward Ngatai Braybrook (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Porou), Puhirauma Milner (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Porou) and Te Kani ā Takiura Porter (Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau Apanui, ngāteri, ng) Porteri) Apanui, ngās.
