Congrats to Mana Pounamu recipients

Otago Polytechnic congratulates the recipients of Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards 2023.

Held last Friday (28 October) in Dunedin, the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards celebrated the amazing achievements of around 50 rakatahi Māori (Māori youth) in secondary schools across Otago.

Mana Pounamu recognises the vast and varied accomplishments of rakatahi Māori across the province and seeks to inspire them to consider tertiary education as their natural next step.

A range of scholarships and awards were presented at the ceremony, including Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga scholarships (full fees payment for a chosen course of study for senior Mana Pounamu recipients).

Working alongside other leaders in Māori education, the late Alva Kapa (a Kāi Tahu Tāua and passionate educator) initiated the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards in 2001. The celebration was named “Mana Pounamu” as it was first held in the Year of Mana Pounamu.

Mana Pounamu is a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Araiteuru (opened by Te Rūnanga o Puketeraki this year), Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga, the University of Otago, the Ministry of Education and Otago Daily Times.

2023 Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards recipients:

Tuākana (Years 12 and 13)

Josh Curtis (Bayfield High School), Milla Cashmore (Columba College), Sondre Langvik-Owen (Cromwell College), Pania Geary (Dunstan High School), Summer Hunter (East Otago High School), Zavier Michael Paterson (John McGlashan College), Hunter Morton (Kaikorai Valley College), Corbin Tuwairua (King’s High School), Maia Penhey (Logan Park High School), Charlotte Kenny (Lawrence Area School), Reef Becker (Maniototo Area School), Anataia Kōtuku Hinerau White, (Mount Aspiring College), Daniel Te Raki, (Otago Boys’ High School), Emmy Kena (Otago Girls’ High School), Tallulah Costa (Queen’s High School), Lloyd Manihera (Roxburgh Area School), Zara-Lee Tuhura,(South Otago High School), Phoebe Florence Hunter (St Hilda’s Collegiate School), Molly-May Mestrom (St Kevin’s College), Maddison McGrath (Taieri College), Tane Nichol (Tokomairiro High School), Ted Kerr-Bell, (Trinity Catholic College), Lincoln Matua Brosnahan (Waitaki Boys’ High School), Michelle Fairburn (Waitaki Girls’ High School), Marley King Smith (Wakatipu High School).

Tēina (Years 10 and 11)

Samuel Stoddart (Bayfield High School), Boston Setefano (Blue Mountain College), Baxter Dimond (Cromwell College), Sky Sanders (Dunstan High School), Ethan Te Raki (East Otago High School), Serge Enzo Steel Meeuws (John McGlashan College), Zane Rakete-Gray (King’s High School), Sophie Smart (Logan Park High School), Grace Bradfield (Lawrence Area School), Nate Spooner (Maniototo Area School), Lucy Alba Ātaahua Maibach (Mount Aspiring College), Charlie Hore (Otago Boys’ High School), Tirea Campbell (Otago Girls’ High School), Jade Taari (Queen’s High School), Jorja Andrew (South Otago High School), Mia Kararaina Wall (St Hilda’s Collegiate School), Okeroa Jamieson (St Kevin’s College), Emily Clements (Taieri College), Amelia Morrison (The Catlins Area School), Saffron Waiparani Healy (Tokomairiro High School), Evie de Graaf (Trinity Catholic College), Tony Te Awa Kairangi Heremaia Poni (Waitaki Boys’ High School), Amelia Devon (Waitaki Girls’ High School), Zara Small (Wakatipu High School).