Pänui Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards He tāonga, he koha, he kura pounamu The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards was held on 29 October. It celebrates and recognises the achievements and potential of rakatahi Māori (Māori youth) in secondary schools across Otago The objectives of these awards are to: • Celebrate the success and achievement of rakatahi Māori; • Encourage rakatahi Māori to participate in tertiary study; • Identify leadership potential; and • Provide positive role models to rakatahi Māori.
left to right: Jayde Moir, East Otago High School (snr), Jordan Klenner, Otago Girls’ High School (jnr), Eleanor Baxter, Bayfield High School (jnr), Jodie Hope, Bayfield High School (snr), Taikawa Tamati-Elliffe, Kings High School (jnr), Angus Knox, Kings High School (snr), Sequoia Cunningham, Logan Park High School (jnr).
The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards were brought about through the vision of the late Tāua Alva Kapa, and were named as such because they were first held in the Year of Mana Pounamu (2001). The awards are a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arāiteuru, the University of Otago, the Otago Polytechnic, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Ministry of Education.
Other Ngāi Tahu recipients not in the picture: Vienna Sutherland, Columba College (jnr), Greer Parslow-Boyd, Columba College (snr), Jasmine Knowles, St Hilda’s Collegiate (snr), Sarah Thomas, Kaikorai Valley College (snr), Mariah Carey-Broad, Blue Mountain College (snr), Destiny Brensell, Maniototo Area School (jnr), Annalyse Shaw, Cromwell High School (snr), Caleb Dudley, Waitaki Boys’ High School (snr)
This year there are a total of 32 award winners, consisting of both tuakana (senior) and teina (junior) recipients. A number of scholarships are also being awarded by the Otago Polytechnic and the University of Otago.
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