This year MIT awarded 49 school leavers with scholarships to study at MIT and pursue their dream careers. Our 2016 scholarship recipients celebrated their awards with whanau and friends, at a special ceremony at MIT's Dine Restaurant on Wednesday 17 February. Congratulations to all of this year's winners. Nau mai, haere mai ki MIT.

Three years ago, Fou Fale was stuck behind a desk shuffling paperwork at an inner-city company. "I was trying to find that sense of thriving in my life – but I lacked it," says the 29-year-old. With the help of Māori and Pasifika Trades Training scholarship, Fou has been able to pursue his true passion: cooking. He's now excelling in his Certificate in Cookery (Level 3 and 4) at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

This story was originally published by the Manukau Courier and stuff.co.nz. Two Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) creative arts students are the brains behind the new branding for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Daisy Tavilione (22) and Nofoagaoalii (Nofo) Me (21) were commissioned to create a new identity for the Ministry, to reflect its change from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

Andre Betham says he feels "blessed" to be a 2016 Māori Sports Award winner. The Trillion Trust scholarship will provide financial assistance for Andre to study a Diploma of Sports and Recreation at Manukau Institute of Technology.

An initiative starting this month between Hamlin Road Farm and the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) will see people recovering from mental illness gain work-ready horticulture skills, and the vegetables they grow being used in MIT's student-run Dine Restaurant.