The Stark-Brown Scholarships
Public Trust is the Trustee of the estate of John Michael Stark-Brown. Mr Stark-Brown, a former viticulturist from Auckland, passed away on 11 April 1983. Through his estate, a scholarship fund was established to support students pursuing studies in horticulture and agriculture.
Important Information for Applicants
Please read the following information carefully before completing your online application. Applicants should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, which may be updated from time to time.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the John Michael Stark-Brown Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Oratia Primary School Attendance: Applicants must have attended Oratia Primary School for a minimum of one year.
- University Enrollment: Applicants must be commencing full-time study at either Massey University or Lincoln University.
- Field of Study: The chosen course must be in the field of Agriculture or Horticulture, and have a minimum duration of one year.
- Start Date: Applicants must be beginning their course of study in 2026.
The successful applicant will receive a one-time payment of $5,000 for the first year of study.
Recipients may apply to the Trustee for annual renewal of the scholarship for the duration of their course, subject to continued eligibility and approval.
Scholarship Notes
- Variable Value: The value of the scholarship may vary from year to year and between individual recipients.
- Permitted Uses: Scholarship funds may be applied toward:
- Student loan repayments
- Tertiary fees (including course fees and Halls of Residence)
- Study-related expenses such as laptops, stationery, and travel
- Payment Process: In most cases, payment will be made directly to the education provider upon confirmation of enrolment.
- Direct Reimbursement: If part of the scholarship is required for study-related purchases, these must be clearly itemised and included in your application.
- Excluded Expenses: The scholarship cannot be used to purchase a car or mobile phone.
Application Requirements
To apply, you must submit the following via the Public Trust Online Granting System:
- A completed application form
- A reference from your school Principal, Dean, or current employer (if applicable)
- Full course details, including annual costs
- Academic records and/or evidence of other achievements
- Proof of attendance at Oratia Primary School (e.g. a school report or letter from the Principal)
Continuation of Scholarship
To be considered for renewal in subsequent years:
- Applicants must demonstrate sound academic performance in the previous year, confirmed by the university.
- Renewal is at the discretion of Public Trust and subject to satisfactory progress.
- Requests for continuation must be submitted by 31 January each year to:
funding@publictrust.co.nz
Your continuation request must include:
- A brief review of your academic year and exam results
- An outline of your intended study for the upcoming year
Terms and Conditions
- Scholarship decisions are based on the application, supporting documents, and any additional enquiries.
- The Trustee’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Scholarships are conditional on enrolment in the course of study outlined in the application.
- Scholarships may be approved with conditions; in such cases, funds will be held until conditions are met.
- The Trustee reserves the right to withhold payment in cases of misconduct.
- Criteria, value, and conditions may change annually at the Trustee’s discretion.
Important Dates
- Applications Open: 9:00 AM, 27 October 2025
- Applications Close: 5:00 PM, 19 December 2025
- Notification of Outcome: By 26 February 2026
Late applications will not be accepted.
Contact us: Any questions should be directed to Public Trust to funding@publictrust.co.nz.
IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.
Step 1: Determine eligibility
- Please ensure you have read the Trust’s eligibility criteria
- If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply please contact us
Step 2: Register or login to apply online
- First time users will need to register.
Note: Please store your login details in a safe place for future reference.
- Once registered, you can login to the system and start your application.
Step 3: Complete your application
- The application is best viewed/completed on a non-mobile device.
- Complete all of the required questions – mandatory questions are marked with an *.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
Note: Our preferred format for attachments is PDF, Excel, Word or JPG. Supporting materials cannot exceed 25MB in size, as files exceeding this will not upload.
Hint: Save your work regularly so it is not lost if you time out or lose your connection.
You can save your application at any stage and return to it later. Make sure the spell checker is switched on in your browser to prevent spelling errors.
Step 4: Review and submit your application
- When you are satisfied with your application press the review button to ensure that all required sections of the application have been completed (you must do this before the submit button is enabled).
- Submit your application.
Note: Once you have submitted your application no further editing or uploading of supporting documents is possible.
Step 5: What happens next?
- You will receive an automated email confirming your submission with a copy of your application attached and information about how/when your Application will be assessed. This will be sent to the email you used to register.
If you do not receive a confirmation email then your Application has not been successfully submitted (don’t forget to check your spam email folder when looking for the email).
- We will contact you if we require any further information to consider your application.
If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
If you have any technical difficulties using the online SmartyGrants portal email service@smartygrants.com.au
