PUBLISHED JUNE 2026

A young designer shows how opportunity can transform a life

Interior architecture Master’s student Karunikah Pere‑Walker is a wāhine Māori on the rise. Karunikah descends from Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou and Te Aitanga‑a‑Māhaki. Her work at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington explores how space can help people feel at home. Together with an internship at WSP New Zealand Limited, she is already showing she has the talent and drive to go far.

Behind Karunikah’s momentum is a network of people who committed to backing her early. It includes a teacher in Gisborne, scholarship partner WSP, her mentor Clare Old and the wrap‑around support of First Foundation.

A teacher’s belief opens a new pathway

At Gisborne Girls’ High School, Karunikah caught the eye of a teacher, Jo Graham, who put her forward for a First Foundation scholarship. Jo has always watched for students with talent and drive who may find university out of reach.

For many students, simply imagining university can feel like a stretch, and the financial commitment can be overwhelming. Having someone in her corner who understood those barriers and knew about First Foundation made the first real difference.

For Karunikah, being asked to apply was an affirmation. It told her that others could see a future for her beyond school, even when she did not yet know how to get there herself.

A childhood of change shapes a clear design vision

Growing up, stability was not guaranteed for Karunikah. “I was in and out of school. I moved to multiple schools in a year, sometimes only attending school for a month or so,” she recalls. “I would often have to move and make new friends.” There were periods when she did not have a single place that felt like home.

She draws on this experience to shape her design.

“That experience gave me a strong desire to design spaces that provide comfort and a sense of belonging, especially for others who might feel the same way,” she adds.

“Although my life hasn’t been the easiest, I believe that it has formed the hard-working and positive person I am today.”

A scholarship turns aspiration into a realistic plan

Karunikah is the first in her whānau to pursue a degree. “None of my family members has attended university, and the transition between high school and university is something I am completely oblivious to,” she wrote when she first applied. “So, the opportunity to have support from a mentor would really help me.”

Karunikah sees learning as a chance to grow her choices and opportunities. “I am also very enthusiastic about my education and take it very seriously. I believe that education is a luxury that we shouldn’t take for granted,” she explains.

“I have always worked to support myself financially and to achieve the best results I can at school, in the hope of making my future better.”

The First Foundation scholarship presented a path to realise her dreams. It eased financial pressure and connected her with people who understood the transition she was stepping into. This is what a ‘hand up’ looks like in practice: financial assistance, mentoring, and exposure to mahi, all wrapped around a student who is already working hard.

WSP gives real‑world experience and space to grow

Scholarship partner WSP New Zealand Limited has played a key role in helping Karunikah follow her path. Over several summers, she has joined different teams at WSP, including an interior design internship and a strategic advisor role. Each placement has given her new skills, new networks, and a clearer sense of where she might contribute in the design sector.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to continue my journey of learning with such a lovely team!” Her internships sit alongside other experiences, including time with Warren and Mahoney, as she builds a broad base of knowledge across the design world.” 

Mātauranga Māori anchors her design work

A recent project has showcased Karunikah’s growing talent. For a furniture design course, Karunikah created “Re‑purpose”, a light fitting conceived for Te Herenga Waka’s Living Pā, a redevelopment grounded in sustainability and cultural harmony. Her design draws on the traditional art of hīnaki eel traps and tukutuku patterns, which she remembers from her marae Rongopai in Gisborne.

“Mātauranga Māori is at the heart of my project,” she says. “I wanted the design to embody a part of Māori heritage, so I also took inspiration from traditional tukutuku patterns that I remember admiring as a child on my marae Rongopai in Gisborne.”

She combined this with circular economy principles, exploring reclaimed materials, modular construction, and adaptability.

“The combination of mātauranga Māori and contemporary techniques creates a rich and sustainable design that builds appreciation for our planet and our culture.”

A growing leader brings pride back to her community

As she completed her Bachelor of Architectural Studies Karunikah focused on learning as much as she could. “Throughout my studies, I have learnt about many problems within the built environment, and it is the act of discovering solutions that has piqued my interest.”

Now in her Master’s degree, she is especially drawn to issues of accessibility, sustainability, and cultural harmony. “Some issues I am currently focused on are accessibility, sustainability, and achieving a sense of cultural harmony,” she explains.

“The overarching goal is to create interiors and spaces that maximise comfort for all occupants.” She also keeps an eye on the housing crisis and wants to design buildings that help address these issues and benefit her community.

Looking ahead, she says, “In the future, I would also love to work in the furniture design industry, creating pieces that accomplish their functional purpose and become a meaningful part of interiors.”

Your support puts more young designers on the map

When you look at Karunikah’s story, you can see the impact of deliberate and targeted scholarship. A teacher noticed her potential. First Foundation’s scholarship and wrap‑around support made university a realistic option. WSP opened doors into the professional world and backed her as she grew.

A First Foundation scholarship sets up relationships that can reshape a life, then ripple out to whānau, workplaces, and communities. If you choose to support a scholar, you’re not just funding study. You are helping determined young people turn lived experience into expertise that makes Aotearoa’s spaces more just, more sustainable, and more at home for everyone.

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