Don Linklater Memorial Bursary applications open

To honour the contribution made to the Manawatū-Whanganui region and to local government by the late Don Linklater, Horizons Regional Council Chairman 1989-2000, Horizons is offering a bursary for university study.
  
The bursary, which can be split across up to four recipients, aims to support students studying in areas relevant to some of Horizons Regional Council's work.
 
Students can be studying either internally or extramurally, in areas such as resource management, environmental planning, and environmental engineering and modelling with particular emphasis on river and drainage basin dynamics.
 
Horizons councillor Hamish Easton says the bursary is a great way of supporting and encouraging students while at the same time investing in the future management of our natural resources. 
 
“These students will be gaining valuable knowledge ready to deal with our long-term environmental challenges.
 
“It is crucial that we do what we can now to grow our knowledge base. It will help to build resilience of our communities and the environment, which benefits everyone.”
 
To be eligible, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident studying full-time in 2026, at either undergraduate or postgraduate level.
 
Applicants must be from the Horizons region; however, they may be studying elsewhere in New Zealand.
 
One of the four bursaries will be considered based on meeting the eligibility criteria and their iwi/hapū connection to the region.
 
Anyone interested in applying for the Don Linklater Memorial Bursary can get an application form from www.horizons.govt.nz/about-our-region-and-council/grants-and-sponsorship.
 
Applications must be received no later than 5pm Thursday 23 April 2026.
 
The bursary recipients will be selected by a panel of Horizons representatives made up of councillors. Shortlisted applicants will then meet with the selection panel.