The achievements of rakatahi Māori in Central secondary schools in cultural, academic, community and sporting areas was celebrated at an awards ceremony in Dunedin on Friday night (October 28).

Approximately 50 secondary school students from across Otago were celebrated for various achievements in the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers' Awards held at the University of Otago College of Education auditorium.

Central students acknowledged were:

Year 12 and 13 - Hannah Bisset (Cromwell College), Myah Turnbull (Dunstan High School), Kassidy Pont (Maniototo Area School), Shahni Whitu (Roxburgh Area School).

Year 10 and 11 - Kees Johnson (Cromwell College), Sky Sanders (Dunstan High School), Mahaliya Pike (Maniototo Area School), Lloyd Manihera (Roxburgh Area School).

Many whānau, friends and kapa haka group members travelled to Dunedin for the ceremony to tautoko (support).

Roxburgh Area School’s winners were Lloyd Manihera and Shahni Whitu.

Cromwell College students at the awards were Hannah Bisset and Kees Johnson.

Dunstan High School’s Skye Sanders and Myah Turnbull.

Dunstan High School principal Reece Goldsmith said the school was thrilled for deserving nominees Myah and Skye.

“We are very proud of both these students' massive contribution to school life here at Dunstan including te ao Māori; where Myah is one of our Pou Māori Leaders and both [are] active members of our kapa haka group.

“We see this as a real honour and these two students follow in the footsteps of some awesome previous winners.”

The 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.

The goal of the awards is 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.

Each year one junior and one senior student from each Otago secondary school can be nominated based on achievements from one or more of the following areas: cultural, leadership, academic, community and sport. 

For more information see the awards website.

Great māhi: the students recognised in the Mana Pounamu Awards from across Otago.

PHOTOS: Hayley Walmsley