MANA POUNAMU YOUNG ACHIEVERS’ AWARDS 2015 

He tāonga, he koha, he kura pounamu


The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards Ceremony, which recognises the achievements and potential of rakatahi Māori (Māori youth) in secondary schools across Otago, will be held on Friday, 23rd October 2015 at the College of Education Auditorium in Dunedin.

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.


School nominations of one junior recipient (Yr 9-11) and one senior recipient (Yr 12-13), with accompanying documentation (nominee’s CV & photo, school testimonial, whānau endorsement & media consent form), must be emailed to mana.pounamu@gmail.com by Thursday, 10th September 2015.

The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards were realized through the vision of the late Tāua, Alva Kapa, a local Kāi Tahu educator. The celebration was given this name because it was first held in 2001, the Year of Mana Pounamu. It is 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.

Details of the 2015 ceremony are as follows:

Date: Friday, 23rd October, 2015

Times: 5.30pm start (Mihi Whakatau by the mana whenua)

Venue: University of Otago College of Education Auditorium

Union Street East

DUNEDIN

If whānau have any questions about the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards, please contact your school office for more information, or visit the Mana Pounamu website: http://www.manapounamu.org.nz/