Mana Tangata Scholarship inaugural recipient James Wilson, right, with a patient during his placement in Christchurch.
The inaugural recipients of a new scholarship for final-year physiotherapy students combine academic excellence, cultural leadership, and a determination to give back.
Launched in 2024 through a partnership between the University of Otago and the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, the Mana Tangata Scholarship is awarded annually to two final-year Physiotherapy students of Māori or Pacific ancestry and who show both academic excellence and a genuine passion for neurorehabilitation.
The name itself, Mana Tangata, or “the prestige of the people” speaks to its purpose, to honour rangatira in training and to uplift the communities they represent.
For James Wilson, one of the inaugural recipients, the scholarship was exactly that.
Of Ngāti Kuia and Te Āti Awa descent, James was raised in a military family. Leaving school at 16, James spent years working full-time in trades, making his path to becoming a physiotherapist anything but conventional.
After attending night classes, James rekindled his love for learning while gaining his university entrance.
“I wanted to see what I could have been and where this could take me,” he says.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy, he entered Otago’s physiotherapy programme and quickly found his calling in neurorehabilitation.
Volunteering beyond his placement hours at the U-move clinic, James was helping a young adult with their mobility.
“The nervous system fascinates me. In neuro, healing isn’t just about movement. It’s about helping improve their quality of life.”
James also draws strength from his Māori heritage.
“Whakawhānaungatanga and tikanga guide how I connect with people. It’s about seeing the whole person, not just the condition.”
The Mana Tangata Scholarship arrived at a crucial time because financial challenges nearly brought his studies to a halt in his final year when he reached the government funding cap for a student loan, he says.
“I will always be indebted to this scholarship because I wouldn’t have been able to complete my degree without it. But it’s more than financial support; it’s their belief in me as well,” he says.
Otago Physiotherapy student Georgia Schmidt-Uili feels honoured to be an inaugural recipient of the Mana Tangata Scholarship – a partnership between the University of Otago and the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.
The other inaugural scholarship recipient, Georgia Schmidt-Uili, is a proud daughter of the Pacific.
With ancestral ties to the villages of Moata’a and Safotu in Samoa, Georgia moved to Aotearoa from Sydney during high school and discovered physiotherapy after visiting a local practitioner.
“I visited a physiotherapy clinic in Upper Hutt and was fascinated by the way my physio explained foreign concepts to me to help me understand my injury,” she says.
“It was from there that I felt like I wanted to be able to help people in the same way, and build connections with people, beyond surface level.”
Later, while supporting her late father in hospital, Georgia witnessed firsthand the transformative power of neuroplasticity which in turn grew her interest in neurorehabilitation.
“It showed me how powerful neuroplasticity can be in helping people regain movement and function,” she reflects.
Receiving the Mana Tangata Scholarship for Georgia has been both affirming and motivating.
“Personally, it tells me I’m capable and that people believe in me. Professionally, it inspires me to make the most of every opportunity and to be a role model for other Pacific students,” Georgia says.
Now based in Wellington for her final year, her practice is rooted in “firsthand experience” and a Pacific point of view.
“I have firsthand understanding of healthcare from a Samoan and Pacific perspective. Respect, connection, and encouragement are key to how I care for patients.”
For James and Georgia, the Mana Tangata Scholarship is more than a lifeline, it’s a platform for service.
It celebrates their personal journeys, works to amplify their cultural heritage and positions them to transform lives through neurorehabilitation across Aotearoa.
Kathryn Jones, CEO, Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust
“This scholarship is about investing in us so we can invest in our communities,” James says.
They both believe the Mana Tangata Scholarship is a true celebration of the value and mana of the Māori and Pacific community at the University of Otago and are also grateful for the support of the Laura Fergusson Trust.
Lady Laura Fergusson, wife of the then Governor-General Sir Bernard Fergusson, established the Trust in her name in the 1960s.
Today the Trust supports those impacted by brain injuries in Canterbury and surrounding regions.
Kathryn Jones, CEO of Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, says, “I am delighted to support the growth in the number of Māori and Pacific allied health therapists graduating supported by the Mana Tangata, Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust scholarship.
“This initiative is a significant step towards fostering diversity and excellence in the healthcare sector, ensuring that all of our communities receive the best possible care," Kathryn says.