A late addition to her country’s team, the South Auckland-based 15-year-old exceeded all expectations at the Games by reaching the women’s 100 metres backstroke S9 and finishing seventh out of eight.

Neiufi has been awarded the Courtney Scholarship, which is named after long-time Parafed Auckland Board member and former athlete Robert Courtney.

Courtney won a gold medal in the men’s 100m 4 event at the 1984 Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville and went on to become one of the world’s first professional Paralympians.

His mother Val, the patron of Parafed Auckland, was the lead organiser of Parafed activity for more than a decade and is considered an instrumental figure in the development of Para-sport in Auckland.

The one-off Courtney Scholarship is for a Para-athlete who through outstanding commitment, attitude and ability, demonstrates the potential to medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

"Thanks to the funding it will help me keep moving forward, working towards my goal of medalling at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games," Neiufi said.

"I am a proud South Aucklander and feel very honoured to receive a scholarship named after Robert Courtney, another South Aucklander who was one of New Zealand's greatest Paralympians."

Neiufi has a long association with Parafed Auckland, being identified and supported early in her swimming career at the Howick Pakuranga Swim Club under the guidance of her coach Sheldon Kemp.

She initially began swimming as a form of therapy, having been hit by a speeding car when she was just two years old.

The incident resulted in a left-sided hemiplegia, meaning she has paralysis on the left side of her body.

Parafed Auckland also awarded four "Trust Scholarships", which are targeted at Para-athletes working towards their first international competition in the next one to two years.

The Trust Scholarships are supported by the Auckland Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Trust, which is an organisation that aims to enhance the lives of physically disabled Aucklanders through sport and recreation.

The recipients were Anna Stevens, Ethan Rangi, Keegan Pitcher and Tamara Gotty, all of whom are developing their talents in Para-athletics.

Five Carbine Club Scholarships, which are targeted at "Pathway to Podium" level Para-athletes identified as having potential to medal at Paralympic or World Championship events in four to eight years, were awarded as well. 

The quintet of recipients were Para-cyclists John Lee, Losalini Harford and Nick Blincoe, Para-shooter Neelam O’Neil, and Para-swimmer Olivia Upston.

The Carbine Club is a charitable club that aims to celebrate sporting excellence and raise money to support athletes with a disability.

"Tupou and all of the other recipients are incredible Para-athletes, who we are proud to support," Hamish Meacheam, chief executive of Parafed Auckland, said.

"We must acknowledge the backing of the Carbine Club as well as the Auckland Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Trust in making these much-needed scholarships possible."

The launch of the new scholarship programme comes a few months after New Zealand’s most successful Paralympics ever, claiming 21 medals - nine golds, five silvers and seven bronzes - at Rio 2016 to beat their pre-Games target of 18.