Theta Te Ao Māori Technology Scholarship: Seeking Aotearoa's fresh minds for the next generation of tech professionals

We've already scouted and secured this year's recipient, Tayla Fraser Brown, with help from the Māori Education Trust, and we can't wait to have her join our Theta community.

Part of what it means to work at Theta is all-rounded inclusivity and diversity. We have over 28 nationalities on board and speak 46 languages/dialects. However, as a Kiwi company, we want to ensure we're equally growing our innovations with the sharp minds of our own.  

In the past, we've helped students complete their university pursuits via the First Foundation - an incredible trust that gives capable students a chance at their studies no matter their situation. After our last student successfully achieved their studies, we decided it was time to create our own scholarship as a step toward helping our nation's talent gain traction in their tech careers. So, we're excited to announce that the first year of our ‘Theta Te Ao Māori Technology Scholarship’ is underway.

The scholarship supports an undergrad university student of Māori descent in Technology or Computer Science fields, and we will contribute $5,000 per annum for up to three years towards their studies. We've partnered with the Māori Education Trust to help us through the difficult process of shortlisting appropriate recipients. The trust will also contribute an additional $2,000 per annum to the student's studies.  

Our scholar will have the opportunity to spend nine weeks over three years of the scholarship in paid work alongside the Theta team, with room for extra work and experience on an ad hoc basis.  

This year, the Theta Technology Scholarship is awarded to Tayla Fraser Brown, an extraordinary young wahine in her final year of a 5-year joint Computer Science and Law degree at the University of Auckland. Tayla’s iwi affiliations are Ngāi Tahu and Kāi Tahu, the principal iwi of the beautiful South Island. As part of her scholarship, she will have the opportunity to contribute to our Theta Te Ao Māori group and gain holiday employment to work amongst our Theta team.  

We're thrilled to help Tayla fulfil her educational ambition, and we're so excited to watch her skillset grow and contribute a fresh mind to our community.  

If you know of a bright candidate for next year's Scholarship, spread the word and keep an eye out for our opening applications. We will be advertising through the Māori Education Trust, in November 2022, for our next Tech Kiwi.