Scholarships
TTNZ is dedicated to supporting the holistic development of its athletes. To this end, several scholarship opportunities are available to assist players in balancing their sporting ambitions with academic pursuits.
Available Scholarships
Adastra Foundation
The Adastra Foundation provides financial and mentoring support to extraordinary young New Zealanders striving for excellence in their chosen fields. Established in 2007, the foundation aims to empower athletes and performing artists to achieve success on national and international stages.
Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships
Administered by High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), the Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships support athletes in pursuing tertiary education alongside their sporting careers. These scholarships are designed to assist athletes in achieving academic and sporting excellence concurrently.
Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships Recipient, Dean Shu
Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships Recipient, Max Henderson
TTNZ Athletes Benefit from Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship
TTNZ is committed to supporting athletes who strive for excellence both on the table and in the classroom.
Two athletes who have benefited from this support are Max Henderson and Dean Shu, both recipients of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship.
Max Henderson, a current recipient in 2024 and 2025, is balancing his table tennis goals with academic studies at the University of Waikato. The scholarship enables him to pursue his sporting ambitions while representing New Zealand at high-level events, including the 2024 World Championships.
Dean Shu, a scholarship recipient from 2019 to 2023 during his time at the University of Auckland, reflects on the impact the support had on his development:
“The scholarship reignited my resolve to excel in both sport and academics. It helped me stay motivated and focused, even during intensive training periods overseas.”
Now a graduate, Dean expresses his sincere gratitude to the New Zealand Government and High Performance Sport NZ for the opportunity. He also acknowledges the support of the TTNZ community—especially Christine Arthur for her guidance in balancing studies and sport, and Christine Young, who encouraged him to apply for the scholarship.
The journeys of Max and Dean highlight how the Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship plays a vital role in enabling New Zealand’s top table tennis players to achieve success in both sport and education.
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme
Offered by the University of Waikato, the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme supports students who demonstrate exceptional achievement and potential in sport or creative and performing arts, alongside strong academic performance. The programme fosters leadership and community engagement among its scholars.
