Grant paves way for uni studies

Nikora Price, 18, is the first of his immediate and extended family to enroll at university and has now been awarded an AUT scholarship worth around $20,000 to recognise his achievement. Photo / Supplied

An ex-Pompallier Catholic College student who is the first in his family to enroll at university has been awarded a prestigious scholarship to honour his achievement.

Nikora Price, 18, was awarded one of 12 2015 Woolf Fisher First-in-Family Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Scholarships worth about $20,000. The scholarship is aimed to support and encourage young people from families with no history of successful university education.

Mr Price said he's from a big whanau and is the first in his immediate and extended whanau to enroll at university.

"None of my mum's family has and my dad's family are all tradies. I'm pretty excited. I feel like there is a big expectation of me now but I'm proud."

Mr Price, who is studying a Bachelor of Communication Studies at AUT, said his whanau have had a "massive impact" on his achievements.

"They back me 100 per cent. Even my wider whanau do and that makes a huge difference. They've encouraged me to dream big and do what I wanted to do."

Mr Price said as an 11-year-old he remembered being constantly encouraged by his grandparents.

"My nana passed away when I was 11 and my koro [passed away] when I was 13. At that age you have all these big dreams and they'd encourage me.

"My nana would often say 'You persevere my moko'."

Mr Price has taken his nana's advice on board and persevered. He was a prefect at Pompallier Catholic College and graduated with a Merit endorsement in NCEA at all levels. He also won the Thomas Aquinas Campbell Memorial Trophy for Tikanga Maori.

Going to university was not always something Mr Price wanted to do but he said his interest in journalism helped him make the decision to enroll.

"I figured university was the right pathway to take.

"Being here I've also learned about other pathways available through the degree so I'm open minded."

Mr Price, who has been at AUT for only three weeks, said he had enjoyed it so far and despite the workload he was keen to keep learning.

"My personal motto is 'Ki te kore nga putake e makukungia, e kore te rakau e tupu' - if the roots of the tree are not watered, the tree will never grow."