Thank you from Annie
On 16 January 2026, I was advised by the University of Auckland Scholarships Office that I had been awarded a 2026 HOPE Foundation Research Scholarship. I feel absolutely thrilled and privileged to accept this scholarship.
My research topic has arisen from an observed gap, through my legal work as lawyer for subject person, representing people who no longer have capacity. This has highlighted an apparent lac of knowledge of our current law that allows a person to maintain a level of autonomy of choice in decisions about their future care at a time when they no longer have capacity and are nearing the end of their life. This lack of knowledge is also observed within the legal profession.
MY research identifies the actual law that applies in New Zealand under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act of 1988 (and its amendments). It includes interviews with the participant user group of 65-80 year olds and also investigates legal practice in this area.
Currently, most research in this area is undertaken within health and social sciences, where the law is often recorded and analysed incorrectly. There is little or no empirical data within legal, yet it is the law that provides the authority for documentation and options in this area. This research is new and significant in New Zealand, with the potential to provide a valuable link between the medical profession, the legal profession, and the users, being the older population.
The scholarship award will make an absolute difference to how I view the importance of my research and will give me the confidence to continue with the empirical data collection. This scholarship will be used to financially support the data collection, which will include travel, IT assistance, and incidental costs for methodology enquiry to strengthen the academic value of this research.
I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity this gives me to simply continue with some financial backing while providing me with a newfound confidence and energy to progress my second-year PhD study.
I thank you again for your generosity and interest in the important ageing sector, which makes up almost one-fifth of the New Zealand population.
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