An environmental scholarship in the memory of Awanui Black is being set up in order to send a local Maori student to France.
All spurred by a tiny island off the Te Puna coast, Anne Hoyeau of the French environmental ministry was in Tauranga to discuss educational opportunities for a student to learn about French environmentalism for six to 12 months.
Ms Hoyeau met local Tommy Wilson a year ago, and stayed in contact talking about the local environment and the protection of the coastline.
She had listened to Mr Wilson speak in France about the restoration of Tukoro island in Te Puna, which was a symbolic landmark.
"Back in the day, the tribe that lived here, the men were out fishing, so there were no men to guard. Another tribe snuck in and got to the beach," Mr Wilson said.