The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards was brought about through the vision of the late Tāua, Alva Kapa, a local Kāi Tahu educator. It was named as such because it was first held in the Year of Mana Pounamu (2001) and is a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Ārai-Te-Uru.
The awards ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the achievement of rakatahi Māori in secondary schools across Otago. The underlying objectives of these awards are to:
Celebrate the success and achievement of rakatahi Māori
Encourage rakatahi to participate in further tertiary study
Identify leadership potential
Provide positive role models to rakatahi Māori
Create networking opportunities
Provide and distribute information relating to study, career and scholarships.
This year because of Covid19 the organising committee once again, decided not to have their usual celebration where all of the Otago schools come together to celebrate their Mana Pounamu recipients. Instead, King's and Queen's High Schools, as well as Te Kura o He Waka Kōtuia, had their own Mana Pounamu to celebrate the achievements of the following recipients.
All of this year's recipients from the participating schools were present or past members of He Waka Kōtuia. On Monday, November 8 after our HWK practice Whaea Cherie organised for the schools and families of our 2021 recipients to attend the celebration of this year's award winners.
This intimate gathering gave whānau the chance to read their submission explaining why their child deserved their nomination. The recipients were also given the opportunity to speak.
Our recipients were
Queen's High School:
Teina
Alyssa Landrebe
Kāi Tahu
2021 South Island Māori U16 wahine football
Te Aho Paihere kapa haka
Roslyn Wakari AFC – winners of the Women’s League Division 1 title
Otago Football representative
Queens Football first XI
2018 Aristocrat Entertainer of the year
2021 NZ Gold Guitar Intermediate NZ Song & country Rock Section winner
2021 NZ Gold Guitar Overall intermediate Runner Up
Tuakana
Ella McDonald
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Te Ātiawa
Māreikura (Māori Prefect) for QHS 2021
Student Representative on Board of Trustees 2021
House leader 2020 – 2021
Peer support leader 2021
He Waka Kōtuia (2017-2021)
Competed in winning Te Hautoka teams (2017, 2019, 2021)
Waewae Pakiaka Facilitator
Interact 2017 - 2020
NCEA Level 1, Level 2 & Level 3 endorsed with Excellence. University Entrance
Young Scholar 2019 & 2020
3 x Kapa haka Blues
Sports Council Representative 2019
Netball Coach
King's High School:
Teina
Te Atarau Cassidy
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Te Ātiawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Takoto
Ngā Manu Kōrero Ōtākou-Murihuku – Regional winner for Rāwhiti Ihaka 2021
He Waka Kōtuia (2019-2021)
Competed in winning Te Hautoka teams (2019, 2021)
Te Pae Māhuri – Vice-Chairperson 2022
Waewae Kai Pakiaka kaikōkiri
Kura Reo ki te Waipounamu (3 years)
Kura Reo Rakatahi Lifetime participant
Te Ara Wai ki te Oranga – Science wānanga for Māori students 2020
Te Mana o te Taiao participant 2021
Ka Hao te Rakatahi Tuna Monitoring Project
Brainbusters winner 2020
NCEA Level 2 Te Ao Haka Excellence Endorsed
NCEA Level 2 Te Reo Māori Excellence Endorsed
Tuakana
Manawa Singh
Te Arawa
He Waka Kōtuia (2017-2021)
Competed in winning Te Hautoka teams (2017, 2019, 2021)
National Secondary School Kapa Haka performer 2018
Ngā Manu Kōrero – competed in the Senior English Category 2021
King’s High Māori Leader 2021
Waewae Kai Pakiaka kaikōkiri
Leading junior students at Ōtākou Marae Trips
Rugby (2017 – 2021)
Touch Rugby (2017 – 2019)
Gained NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3
University Entrance
Completed Gateway programme
Te Kura o He Waka Kōtuia:
Tuakana
Kiringāua Cassidy
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Te Ātiawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Takoto
Special Award: Otago University Māori Entrance Scholarship with High Distinction.
Ngā Manu Kōrero Regional Competition
Rāwhiti Ihaka: 1st Place (2017 & 2018)
Pei Te Hurinui Jones: Overall Winner 2019 & 2021
Ngā Manu Kōrero National Competition
Rāwhiti Ihaka: 2nd place overall 2018
Pei te Hurinui Jones: 3rd place overall 2021
Te Hautoka Regional Secondary Kapa Haka and National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka performer (2016-2021)
He Waka Kōtuia Kaitātaki 2021
Youngest licensed translator in Aotearoa 2021
Kaiako Reo: Kura Reo Kāi Tahu
Kaikōkiri: Waewae Kai Pakiaka
L3 Te Reo Māori – Excellence endorsed 2018 (yr10)
Scholarship Te Reo Māori 2018 (yr10)
NCEA Excellence Endorsed L3
University Entrance
Halberg Junior Disability Games
U18 Parafed Otago Top Skier 2015-2020
Social Media Officer: Protect our Whakapapa 2020
Kotahi Rau Pukapuka: 6 month internship 2020
Naia: Internship: 12 month internship 2021
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