BK Otway Education Foundation Doctoral Scholarship

Background

Brian Otway (1926 - 2018) was a passionate farmer up until his death aged 91. His father and grandfather were earlier surveyors and pioneer farmers.

Brain Otway grew up and was schooled in Auckland but most weekends and holidays were spent with his brother, Bill, helping out on the family farm in the Waimai / Matira valleys. During World War Two Brian trained as a pilot with the R.N.Z.A.F.

In 1946 he attended Lincoln College to complete a Diploma of Agriculture where he also played for the Lincoln College 1st XV rugby team until 1948. Three of Brian’s children also attended Lincoln College studying programmes in agriculture and horticulture.

In the late 1940s Brian purchased a gorse and scrub infested block of land (originally milled for Kauri trees then Kauri gum) in the Te Arai district (Wellsford) with no buildings, fences, or roads. Brian worked extremely hard farm contracting elsewhere by day (land clearing with a bulldozer) and working on his own land by night. Locals called him “mad Otway” as they could see the lights at night time while he was cutting gorse. Eventually, he transformed this property and nearby properties into highly productive sheep and cattle farms that also supported large tracts of native bush.

After selling these properties in early 2000 he continued on in his eighties with the help of his youngest son to develop a large rundown farm near Kerikeri. Even in his last years he managed trips to the farm to get onto his beloved bulldozer.

Brian knew the importance of education and believed everyone should have the opportunity to access it. The family saying: standing at the foothills gazing at the sky, how should I get up there if I never try?” is what Brian stood for. Hard work meant results.

In 2009 Brian Otway settled a Charitable Trust known as the BK Otway Education Foundation and on his death a significant part of his estate was left to the trustees of the BK Otway Education Foundation for its purposes.

1. Purpose

The BK Otway Education Foundation Doctoral Scholarship was established in 2020 by the BK Otway Education Foundation to support postgraduate study and research in the area of sustainable land management in Agriculture or Horticulture for the benefit of New Zealand.

2. Number/Value

One scholarship will be offered annually to a full-time doctoral student studying at Lincoln University. The annual value of the scholarship shall be a $35,000 stipend plus tuition

One scholarship will be offered annually to a full-time doctoral student studying at Lincoln University. The annual value of the scholarship shall be a $35,000 stipend plus tuition

The criteria for selection will be

4.1. Academic Merit 4.2. Field of Research and its relevance to this scholarship 4.3. Hardship barriers

Tenure

6.1. The scholarship is tenable for a maximum of 3 years from commencement date of the tenure of the scholarship.

6.2. The scholarship shall begin at the commencement of the Semester immediately following the award or in the year of the award or on the scholar’s registration into their programme of study at Lincoln University.

6.3. The scholarship is not tenable with any other scholarship, award or bursary