Peata Graham

It was the first language she learnt and by the age of 4, Peata was fluent.

To build on her knowledge, Peata enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Te Reo Māori and a Bachelor of Business majoring in Strategic Management at the University of Waikato.

“You can be fluent in te reo and still have so much to learn. So I continued learning it as part of my degrees.”

The ability to be fluent in Māori and English has also become increasingly important in many professional areas.

She launched into second-year papers and took a risk with business at Waikato Management School.

“I didn’t have any experience with business at high school, it was something I picked up in my final year, but I decided to take the leap and it was the best decision.

“It has completely changed my mindset.”

Outside of University, Peata says she thinks in a business mindset, able to recognise businesses theories or models they have adapted.

For the second time, Peata was awarded the Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Scholarship.

The annual scholarship, awarded by the Waikato Regional Council and Waikato-Tainui, supports Māori students to undertake full-time undergraduate study at the University with a focus on resource management or environmental protection.

“I’ve met some great people thanks to this scholarship, and am now looking at internship opportunities within a Waikato Māori company where I can use my skills, broaden what I know, and gain more experience.

“I want to work in a Māori department, whether it be the development of Māori rangatahi, or helping preserve Māori land. It’s something I’m passionate about and I would love to work in this field.”

The Bachelor of Business is a three-year degree offered by Waikato Management School, ranked #1 in New Zealand for Business & Economics, and is available at both the Tauranga and Hamilton campuses. To find out more, visit Bachelor of Business.