Ethan Rendall

Despite the internet cutting out midway through a university online exam due to poor connection in rural Ngāruawāhia, Ethan Rendall (Tainui and Ngāti Pāoa) still manages to push boundaries and succeed.

The Bachelor of Business student is about to complete his three-year degree at the University of Waikato, majoring in Accounting and minoring in Finance, and has been awarded the Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Scholarship.

“This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies, rather than the finances of completing my degree. It’s an amazing opportunity and I feel great,” Ethan says.

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.

Ethan is interning at PwC New Zealand as part of his management internship paper and has been accepted into a graduate position in the Financial Advisory Services (FAS) department once he completes his studies.

“Study has been really good, obviously the hardest part was Covid-19 and jumping from online to in-person - networking when you’re on Zoom is pretty difficult.”

He couldn’t rely on his dodgy internet connection either, admitting he had “a few nightmares” along the way.

“Most of the time it’s good, but you’ll be in the middle of an exam and it will just cut out. Thankfully the people regulating the tests were helpful and understanding and it never affected my grades.”

Covid-19 had some benefits.

Juggling his internship at PwC while working for the family business, Huntly Joinery 2000 Limited, and representing New Zealand in clay target shooting, Ethan says online learning gave him time to focus on life outside study too.

Currently living in Ngāruawāhia, 20-minutes from the University, Ethan says choosing to study at Waikato was a “no-brainer”.

“I was driving into Hamilton Boys’ High School, so it just made sense. It was just down the road and I could live at home and save as much money as possible while studying.

“I met people I wouldn’t normally speak to. Coming to Waikato wasn’t just about the degree, but working with young professionals and preparing you for the workforce.”

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, click here.