Kupe Leadership Scholarship

The Kupe Leadership Programme will offer a unique experience that each year will develop a cohort of future leaders who are committed to Aotearoa New Zealand and who will help envision and create a dynamic, creative and successful future for this country. Students will gain competency to understand and include diverse people and perspectives. This will enable them to work towards leadership success measured not solely by bottom line results, but by a more holistic set of outcomes across social, environment, economic and cultural measures.

The Kupe Leadership programme draws on the legend of the great Pacific explorer, Kupe, who, together with his wife, Kurumārōtini, is credited with discovering and naming this land “Aotearoa”. Their sense of adventure and courage in heading out across uncharted waters, drawing on their sailing skills and travelling by the stars, exemplifies the kind of spirit needed by leaders in today’s uncertain and fast-changing world.

To help the Scholars navigate their Kupe Leadership year, each scholar will have the invaluable benefit of  one-on-one mentoring from someone who is an acknowledged and respected leader in their field.

The cohort will come together for a three-day Orientation in February and then engage in leadership workshops throughout the year, drawing on the expertise of top facilitators, the wisdom and knowledge of their peers, the monthly meetings with their mentors, as well as interaction with a broad range of guest presenters. The programme will utilise research-informed models for leadership development, delivered in an experiential format including live case studies and practical exercises, with input from leaders and professionals with diverse experience across the public, private and not for profit sectors.

Read more about the Kupe Leadership Development Programme.

To be considered for a Kupe Leadership Scholarship, all applicants must complete their application in two steps:

1. Apply for admission to a masters, postgraduate honours, postgraduate diploma or Graduate Diploma in Teaching programme for the 2025 academic year. Skip this step if you will be enrolling in the final year of an undergraduate honours programme.
   
2. Apply for the Scholarship. You will not be able to access the Scholarships application form if you have not completed the Application for Admission, or if you are not currently enrolled at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Applications for 2025 scholarships have now closed.

Applicants are encouraged to read through the application form in order to be clear about everything that is required before beginning the Scholarship application process.

You will need the following to complete your online Scholarship application form:

• Your CV details
• One referee who is an academic under whom you have recently studied at university
• One referee who can write about your community activities, and your capabilities and potential as a leader in some sphere of activity
• Any non-University of Auckland transcripts that include your academic results for your most recent two-years of full-time graded study. This is to be uploaded directly to the application form and is additional to the transcripts you will supply for your application for admission to the University of Auckland.

After the closing date, all eligible applications will be forwarded to the Kupe Leadership Scholarship Selection Committee who will select a short-list of candidates, who will be invited to participate in a Selection Day in October.

Successful candidates will be offered a Kupe Leadership Scholarship conditional on their being accepted into their chosen postgraduate course for 2025.