A journey of hope and opportunity: The Manaaki Scholarship Programme

At just 21, McKay Rimbao packed his life into a suitcase and flew more than 5000km from his home in Papua New Guinea to a country he’d never set foot in.

He had been awarded a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship on a fully funded study programme supported by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

Now aged 23, Rimbao is in his second year studying economics and finance at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). The journey, he says, has been life-changing.

“I just wanted to give it a shot,” Rimbao told Te Waha Nui

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I believed in the vision of what this opportunity could mean for me and for my country.”

The Manaaki Scholarship isn’t just about financial aid. MFAT describes it as part of a long-term effort to nurture leadership, build capacity, and strengthen people-to-people connections between New Zealand and developing nations.

“Manaaki Scholarships are a key component of New Zealand’s international development cooperation,” MFAT says.

“They’re about equipping emerging leaders with the skills and knowledge to contribute to their countries' sustainable development and economic growth.”

Before coming to New Zealand, Rimbao had completed a diploma in business studies at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). While grateful for that foundation, he was hungry for more, academically and professionally.

The application process was competitive and detailed, including essays, academic records, and interviews.

“There were moments of doubt,” Rimbao admits. “It felt like a long shot. But my family supported me and that gave me strength.”

According to MFAT, Papua New Guinea is one of the largest recipients of Manaaki Scholarships in the Pacific. In 2023, 58 full tertiary scholarships were awarded to PNG citizens. The focus areas for study are based on development priorities agreed upon by both countries.

“We work closely with partner governments to identify key sectors. For PNG, these include health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, and public sector management,” an MFAT spokesperson says.

AUT is one of eight New Zealand universities involved in the Manaaki programme. MFAT works with these institutions to ensure students are supported, from accommodation and living expenses to healthcare and pastoral care.

“From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed,” Rimbao says.

“AUT’s support system for Manaaki scholars helped me adjust, not just to the academic side, but to life in New Zealand.”

Still, it wasn’t always easy. The cultural shift, homesickness, and new academic expectations were challenging. But the experience has taught Rimbao how to adapt and grow.

“It pushes you,” he says. “I’ve learned to think more critically and to see challenges as opportunities.”

Rimbao plans to return to Papua New Guinea to work in financial development, helping improve financial literacy and economic resilience.

“My country has so much potential,” Rimbao says. “If I can take what I’ve learned here and help create positive change, it will all be worth it.”