Colonisation through a lens

Two years ago, Maija Stephens had barely touched a camera.

Now the former Te Ku¯ iti High School student is contemplating a career behind the lens after receiving the top mark in scholarship photography.

Her portfolio of work, entitled

No Land, No Home, No Hope

explores the impact of colonisation on Ma¯ori. Stephens used herself as a model in her work.

The 18 year old is currently in Austria on a year-long Rotary Youth Exchange. She was encouraged to enter the New Zealand Scholarship by her teacher Marama Shearer.

‘‘The process of creating my photography project, and after being rewarded for it, has made me realise what I am really capable of,’’ Stephens said.

Researching her photography project also strengthened Stephens’ connection to her culture.

‘‘My personal value system has developed significantly and I now see the importance in keeping Ma¯ori culture alive’’. Top scholar award recipients receive $2000 each year, for three years, for as long they maintain at least a ‘‘B’’ grade average in their tertiary study. The New Zealand Scholarship is intended to extend the country’s best students, while offering them financial reward for those going on to full-time tertiary study.

Hamilton Boys’ High School student Patrick Dowd was one of

11 students nationwide to receive a premier award, picking up outstanding scholarships in chemistry, physics and statistics and scholarships in biology, calculus, classical studies and English. Premier award recipients get

$10,000 each year for up to three years.

Outstanding scholar award winners included Hillcrest High School students Gabriel Pan, Jackson Thompson Blewden and John Voss and St Paul’s Collegiate School students Alice Cao, Conor Horrigan and Tony Wu.

Hamilton Boys’ High School students Nicholas Goodman and Sameer Mandhan also received outstanding scholar awards.

Hillcrest High School principal Kelvin Whiting said being named an outstanding scholar was a ‘‘massive’’ achievement.

He said Hillcrest’s strong showing was in part due to its strong cohort of Year 13 students in 2018.