Update - November 2021 The Astrolabe Community Trust committee recently awarded Astrolabe Community Trust Scholarships to three Waikato University Masters students for their unique marine focused research projects, a condition requirement of the Rena resource consent:

16.5 The actual and potential social effects of leaving the remains of the wreck of the Rena on Otaiti are to be recognised and provided for by the Consent Holder through:

a) The establishment of a contestable fund of $160,000 to provide for annual research and education scholarships for the duration of these consents. The fund is to be administered by the Consent Holder.

b) The purpose of the scholarships is to provide for education and/or research involving the marine environment, seamanship or navigation for residents of the Bay of Plenty.

The following three proposals that were chosen all had a high level of academic merit as well as community relevance and commitment to working with iwi partners.

Maria Riegel - “What does protection sound like?”

Emma Donald - “Biodiversity, stressors and chemical ecology of deep reef encrusting fauna on the Motiti offshore island archipelago”

Jade Visser - “Maketū/Kaituna restored wetland ecosystem functionality”

Because of delays due to COVID19, this is the first round of scholarships to have been awarded, funding 3 students over 2 years. Further scholarships will be offered in subsequent years.