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Year 9 Excellence Awards 2025

Darin Smith —

This year, there are 20 Year 9 Excellence Award Winners.

The Year 9 Excellence Awards are prestigious, and we recognise students not just on the promise of their potential and their past performances, but on the realisation of that potential within the King’s environment.

This year, King’s have recognised Excellence Award Winners in six categories:

  • Academic

  • All-rounder

  • Culture

  • Music

  • Sporting

  • Values

Whilst each young man received their Year 9 Excellence Awards from one of these categories, many of them could have achieved success in others.

At the special assembly, each Year 9 Excellence Award Winner is recognised with the reading of a citation by Mr McIvor, and then each student receives a Certificate by the Principal or Senior Teacher from his previous Contributing School. This is of significance as it acknowledges the important relationship between our Contributing Schools and King’s. It is also a special occasion as each young man has present, family and extended whanau to celebrate their young man’s achievement.

Year 9 Excellence Award Winners

Academic Excellence Awards:

  • The Rector’s Academic Award – Genjin Gurung (Dunedin North Intermediate)

  • The Grant Robertson Academic Award – Aston Lawerence (Balmacewen)

  • The PTSA Academic Award – Valerio Ghidella (Tahuna)

  • The Bob Glass Academic Award – Seth Elliot-Tressler (Big Rock Primary)

  • The Dunedin Old Boys' Academic Award – Donovan Fought (Balmacewen)

  • The Dunedin Old Boys' Academic Award – Ruben van Tonder (Big Rock Primary School)

  • The King’s High School Academic Award – Cormac Moore (Tahuna)

  • The Student Council Academic Award – Freddy Ma (Balmacewen)

 

Cultural Excellence Award:

  • The King’s High School PTSA Cultural Award – Nikau Ford (Dunedin North Intermediate)

 

Music Excellence Awards:

  • The Chris Fennessy Music/Cultural Award – Alex Smith (Tahuna)

  • The Student Council Music Award – George Dunn (Balmacewen)

 

Sporting Excellence Awards:

  • The King’s High School Sports Award – Taylor Martin (Tahuna)

-            Football

  • The Brendon McCullum Summer Sports Award – Caleb Dobier (Taieri College)

-            Athletics / Cross Country

  • The Dunedin Old Boys' Sports Award – Preston Wheeler (Tahuna)

-            Basketball / Gymnastics / Rugby

  • The Ben Smith Winter Sports Award – Phoenix Tuhega-Vaitupu (Tahuna)

-            Rugby / Touch / Volleyball

  • The KUKRI Sports Award – Greyson Spencer (Tahuna)

-            Basketball

  • The King’s High School Sports Award – Tioni Metuakore-Tiaiti (Taieri College)

-            Touch

  • The King’s High School Sports Award – Sean Higgins (Tahuna)

-            Rugby / Touch

 

All-rounder Award:

  • The King’s High School All-rounder Award – David-Jabez Hola (Trinity Catholic College)

 

The Kingsman Award:

  • Tatum Tuhega-Johnson (Tahuna)