The Hynds Foundation Business Academy Scholarship is a long-standing programme that has supported a Manurewa High School student to access tertiary education. We now also include Papakura High School in this opportunity. The scholarship demonstrates its importance for broad societal impact, as a growing number of graduates help those who follow in their footsteps to navigate the challenge of transitions. “We are very proud to have connected with them. It is wonderful to be able to support enterprising scholars to flourish through tertiary education and into great careers.”
John Hynds
Joey impressed us with her academic excellence achievements, and enterprising determination. In 2024, she received the Young Enterprise Scheme’s national award for CEO of the Year, recognising her leadership of Oogway Apothecary, an organic tea company. In the same year, she took up Physics as an extra subject, without a teacher, to create a pathway into Engineering.
She explains that the courage of her parents flows into her and motivates her ambitions in life.
“In 1970, during the prime of China’s cultural revolution, my dad made the tough decision to leave his family and seek freedom. He swam for about 10 hours in the pitch dark night, in shark-infested waters from China to his liberty in Hong Kong.
“His uncle had made the journey years before, and through letters was able to give him guidance on ways to survive a treacherous swim that had claimed the lives of others who had attempted it.
“When he arrived safely in Hong Kong he visited a fortune teller, who told him he would live in Hong Kong the rest of his life. It kind of made him angry, because he wanted more.
“Years later he met my mom, and they came to New Zealand. They have worked tirelessly running a fish and chip shop so that me and my brother could have everything.
“I’m the product of what they fought so hard for, their sacrifices and their legacy. The whole world was calling them traitors but they still swam towards what they believed was right. Their unwaivering resilience and drive is what they have passed down to me.”
Joey says as a seven-year-old first hearing her father’s story, she was disbelieving, but over time came to understand the truth of it. Her father’s memories are not traumatic for him – he sees them as part of a life journey that he is grateful for.
While Joey has not faced the same perils, her journey in life has required her to step out of comfort zones. Leading a Young Enterprise (YES) team was one of those steps. Giving a speech at the national YES Awards was another. The transition from high school to university is this year’s first major adjustment, including a move to a residence hall. Family is never too far from her thoughts.
”I seek to honour my parents. Because of them, I am able to have what they couldn’t.”
Joey Hung with her parents, Andrew Moss (Hynds CEO), John Hynds and Adrian Hynds.
Guests at Joey’s welcome from left: Sean Hynds, Adrian Hynds, John Hynds, Joey, Andrew Moss, Mel Newman (Head of HR), Sara Abo Nass (Hynds Scholar 2023), Jeremie Babayan (Hynds Scholar 2022), Joey’s parents, Leanne Gibson (Hynds Foundation).