We are thrilled to announce a NZD $4 million gift to secure an enduring future for the Kupe Leadership Scholarship program. The gift will endow up to five scholarships over five years.
Established in 2018, the program identifies young changemakers from across Aotearoa New Zealand and offers them an intensive leadership program, mentorship from the country’s most prominent leaders, leadership seminars and events, and funding to pursue Honours, Masters, or Post-graduate Diploma programs at the University of Auckland.
Recognizing the need for a comprehensive leadership-focused scholarship program in Aotearoa New Zealand, the McCall MacBain Foundation provided seed funding and design support to establish the program, which has so far supported 111 scholars. Along with other donors, we continue to fund individual scholarships annually.
We have been proud to see the impact of the program in building young scholars’ leadership trajectories. Kupe alumni have gone on to receive other prestigious awards such as the Rhodes Scholarship and the Gates Fellowship, have been featured in the University of Auckland’s “40 under 40” list for their contributions to their field, have started social enterprises, and continue to create impact across diverse areas, including medicine, law, Indigenous health, and international affairs.
We hope that others will join us in investing in the program’s ability to support generation after generation of young leaders and build a legacy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
“The vision for the programme was to create something truly exceptional, that would emulate the finest programmes on the world stage. It was to ignite a new generation of visionary leaders, driven to shape a better future for New Zealand and the world through bold action, community impact and transformative leadership. As the seventh cohort is being celebrated, I am so proud of how the programme has grown and excited to announce the next stage in our commitment to its growth.”
– John McCall MacBain
Read the full announcement here.
This investment is part of our strategic focus on building comprehensive leadership-based scholarship programs in new geographies.