Norman Steele Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship value for 2026 – 2027: $8,000

Kaupapa

The Norman Steele Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to assist students of Ngāti Whakaue studying medicine in New Zealand.

One scholarship will be available to a student who can whakapapa to Ngāti Whakaue, who is studying medicine full-time at a registered Medical School in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Criteria for applicants

• Must attend one of the two current registered medical schools in Aotearoa New Zealand – Otago Medical School and the University of Auckland Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
• Must have completed one year of full-time study at either one of these two registered medical schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Must complete the required Ngāti Whakaue Whakapapa form below and submit with your application.
• Must provide proof of course enrolment/acceptance and submit with your application
• The scholarship is available for the study of one degree only.
• Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
• An interview may be required before final selection.

Additional Criteria/considerations

• Preference will be given to applicants who have achieved higher grades in the previous year of study.
• Awarded annually the scholarship may be available for the duration of the recipient’s degree upon successful completion of each year’s study.
• Scholarships will be withdrawn if the successful applicant fails to progress after two successive years of study.
• The successful recipient is encouraged to spend at least one year of their clinical training at Rotorua Hospital making them better able to evaluate those medical conditions responsible for morbidity and mortality in the district.

Application Requirements

The following must be included in your application:

Attachments:

• Proof of course enrolment/acceptance
• Completed Ngāti Whakaue Whakapapa Form – Form available for download HERE soon.

Scholarship Payments & Reporting Requirements

Scholarships will be paid in two payments. Successful applicants will receive 50% of the scholarship in April and the balance on receipt of satisfactory reporting.
Reports must include how the funds were spent and outline the impact it has made on your life, it must also include your latest academic results.

Reports must be received by the Geyser Community Foundation within six months of receiving the grant or otherwise stated, as a general guide:

• Report One – by 31 December the year Scholarship was awarded. This report is required to receive the second/final Scholarship payment.
• Report Two – 31 July the year following

At the completion, the successful recipient will be required to submit a personal statement (maximum 200 words) outlining their progress, including strengths and any challenges experienced during the year, and goals for the coming year to the Geyser Community Foundation no later than 31 December following the year of study.
On receipt of the personal statement, an interview may be required, either face-to-face or online with the Donor or their representative.

Important Information

• Late applications will not be accepted.
• Funds must be used for the charitable purpose for which they were gifted.
• Successful applicants will be selected by Geyser Community Foundation.  The decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Successful applicant/s will be required to be available for interviews and to participate in promotional activities agreed with the recipient/s.  Information about the gifts and the way in which they have been spent may be used by the Geyser Community Foundation for promotional purposes.
• Successful applicant/s are encouraged to acknowledge the Geyser Community Foundation in their promotional activities and on social media.  Geyser Facebook Page #geysergifts
• The gift may be revoked if the recipient’s behaviour is inappropriate or the recipient has breached conditions of the gift.
• It is expected that the recipient will use the gift within 12 months of receipt.

Important Dates:

Applications Open:  September 1 2026
Applications Close:  Midnight 31 January 2027
Review and decision-making: February
Notification of Decision: March
Scholarship Payment: 20 April 2027 (first payment – 50% of scholarship value)
Accountability Reporting: By 31 December 2027

Before You Apply

Read the information above to ensure you meet the required criteria.

Please ensure you have the following information available before starting your application:

• Purpose of your application
• Proof or verification of your bank account details.
• Required documentation as part of the application criteria
• Any additional supplementary information you would like considered as part of your application.

Applicants will be asked to upload supporting documentation as part of the application process.

To Apply

Applications now go through our new online grants portal, making it easier to save and manage your applications all in one place. You will need to create an account to submit an application, by registering with your email and create a password.

Please click on ‘Apply Now’ to login or create an account. (We recommend bookmarking this page in your browser)

To Create an Account
Once you click ‘Apply Now’ you will go to the Grant Portal Login page. Click ‘Not a member?’ at the bottom right and follow
the prompts.

Applications forms are under the ‘Funding Programs’ Tab – (2026 Tertiary Scholarship Funding)

Important You must answer every question to be able to save your application. If you do not
have all the information enter placeholder text e.g. 123 or ABC.

To access or view your application at any time

• log in to your grant portal account
• go to ‘My Applications’
• click on the application under ‘Funding Request Name’
• Continue with application or view application updates

If you have any questions, please contact:

Leanne Rankin
Community Engagement Officer
Email: leanne@geysercf.org.nz
Phone: 07 349 7496 or 021 030 4343