Academic Prize for AUT Student

It was a hard decision for Nomana Anaru to give up his job to study as a mature student full time at AUT. Now in his last year of a Bachelor of Maori Development Nomana has been rewarded with a $1500 Academic Prize from the NZ Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)/Local Government Careers. Each year SOLGM allocates one SOLGM/Local Government Careers Academic Prize to seven university in New Zealand and for the first time this year AUT was included as a recipient.

The Local Government Centre at AUT recommended the award go to a Maori student and asked Te Ara Poutama (TAP) to find a worthy recipient. TAP decided to give it to a student studying the Iwi Resource Management paper.

Nomana did his Co-operative Education placement Manukau City Council and was placed in the Community Services team.

Nomana was presented with his cheque at a ceremony at Manukau City Council attended by TAP staff, including his supervisor Valance Smith, and council officers. He says his time at council has been a real eye-opener for him and has given him insight into how a council is run.

Diane Maloney, Manukau City Council Manager of Community Services and SOLGM representative, says it was a pleasure having Nomana on the team for his placement.  The awarding was held in the Council offices in May 2009.