Tkay is a recipient of the BDO Sir Henare Ngata Scholarship - awarded each year to three Māori accounting students nationally to help grow the next generation of Māori accountants.
Tkay Warmington has always loved working with numbers, but it wasn’t until a careers advisor suggested university that she considered a career in accounting.
Now a proud recipient of the BDO Sir Henare Ngata Scholarship, Tkay is a step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a chartered accountant. Below, she shares her journey from a kura kaupapa Māori to BDO Northland, her future ambitions and why she thinks others should apply for the scholarship.
“Something I’ve learnt as a Raukura, a graduate of a Kura Kaupapa Māori, is that I will eventually give back.”
I attended Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe for all of my school years and graduated as a raukura at the end of 2023. I understand my obligation to one day give back to my kura, and I know that will eventually involve sharing about how my interest in numbers started during my senior years.
In year 13, I spoke to a careers advisor who suggested I apply to university, and she connected me with Solomon Dalton, a Partner at BDO Northland. Like me, Solomon comes from Kaikohe and is passionate about helping his community. He shared insights about his accounting journey, made it feel achievable and encouraged me to give it a go. I applied to uni and studied core business studies papers. I later gravitated to accounting courses.
Another inspiration is my grandfather, who has been a maths teacher for over 40 years. ‘Mr Timoko’, as others call him, was also my senior maths teacher. He always challenges me to think beyond what I can see in front of me and he suggested that I should be an accountant. I’m proud to follow this path.
“There aren’t many Māori accountants. I want to help support my community.”
Through the BDO internship, I aim to not only apply my accounting knowledge, but I am also excited to learn from like-minded people. There’s a lack of Māori accountants in Aotearoa, and my goal is to learn how to best work for and with our people. Helping others to live comfortably without having to worry about paying bills or putting kai on the table is a priority focus for me.
"I hadn’t applied for any big scholarships before and it’s an honour to receive this one.”
Now that I’ve been awarded this scholarship, it’s about ensuring I uphold the mana and whakapapa behind it, doing the mahi and one day hopefully enjoying the treats. The scholarship is prestigious, and I want to make the most of the opportunities it provides.
“Sir Henare Ngata is an inspiration. I hope to one day be remembered for creating great opportunities for Māori businesses.”
Learning more about Sir Henare Ngata and his work has inspired me to focus more on how I might eventually be able to support others. In the long run, I’d love to create an investment model for tertiary students who may be surviving on minimal funds. I also hope to become a Māori business advisor and support local businesses in the Far North.
“To anyone thinking of applying: do it for your people.”
If you’re Māori and passionate about accounting and business, apply for this scholarship! It’s not just about you – it’s about the people you can support through your mahi - your whānau, hapū, iwi and everyone who believes in you. Think beyond yourself and feel the obligation to create a real impact through the mahi you plan to do.
About the BDO Sir Henare Ngata Scholarship
The BDO Sir Henare Ngata Scholarship aims to help address the underrepresentation of Māori within the accounting profession. It offers financial assistance, an internship or graduate opportunity with a BDO firm, registration to the Ngā Kaitatau Māori o Aotearoa hui, and mentorship with BDO. To find out more, click here.