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Young Achievers' Award Winners

Award-winning youth!

The Young Achievers' Awards is an annual Youth Subcommittee event that recognises young people aged 12-24 years who are working towards promoting a positive image of youth within New Plymouth District. 

2010 Winners

Winner Sarah Harris (New Plymouth)
Sarah has shown fantastic commitment and dedication to caring for the environment. She has both organised and participated in a number of eco-friendly initiatives. She was a Coastal Ambassador for the 2010 Care for the Coast beach clean-ups, which entailed recruiting volunteers, promoting the event and physically getting involved in the clean-up. She represented Taranaki at the Youth Environmental Leaders forum and is the chair of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School (NPGHS) Environment Council. Sarah led the organising of the highly successful NPGHS 2010 Earth Hour and both founded and monitored the schools anti-litter programme. 

Community Service Award

Winner Kurt Komene (NP)
Kurt selflessly shares his skills and attributes with the community. Throughout his life he has been taught to nurture his elders and this has encouraged him to give back whole heartedly to the kaumatua of Taranaki. He teaches, with the utmost grace and patience, elderly individuals and groups aspects of both Maori culture and tikanga to help reclaim important Maori knowledge and a sense of identity. He teaches te reo Maori, kapa haka, whaikorero, weaving and traditional Maori games. The groups he works with truly consider what Kurt does as a great community service, helping to bring out and build on strengths that exist in our community. 

Cultural Development Award

Winner Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Whaitara (Waitara)
Reforming in April 2009, Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Whaitara has gone on to excel and become highly valued in both Waitara High School and the wider community. In 2009 they placed second at the Pae Rangatahi competitions in Whanganui, which gained them entry to the secondary schools’ national kapa haka competition. This year the roopu won the Manu Ariki Kapa Haka national competition, opened the 2010 Waitangi Day celebrations at Puke Ariki, and performed at the Americana Festival where their performance was filmed for an American television programme. The roopu have created a sense of pride and commitment to kapa haka in the community for all ages and backgrounds. They are cultural ambassadors for Waitara High School and the Waitara community.

Super Student Award

Winner Paige Muggeridge (NP)
Paige is considered an outstanding student with a vibrant and confident manner, and the ability to bring out the best in others. She is currently Head Girl at NPGHS and has the utmost respect from her peers and teaching staff alike. Paige is very focussed on her academic results and as a Year 12 student completed NCEA 1, 2 and 3 all with excellence, her university entrance and two New Zealand scholarship subjects. This year as a Year 13 student she entered in six New Zealand scholarship subjects and extra NCEA level 3 subjects she had not previously taken. Her current grade average of the year to date is 100. She has been a top scholar for each of her five years at the school. Her qualities extend to her involvement in a wide range of school pursuits from school productions, school committees, musicals, fundraisers, house events and cultural events. Paige is described by her Year 13 deputy principal as the most rounded and capable student she has found in more than 27 years of teaching.

• Highly Commended Super Student: Cameron Lacey (Inglewood)
  Cameron has leadership qualities and a level of maturity that sets him apart from his peers. He is currently the Head Boy of Inglewood High School and the student representative on the school’s Board of Trustees. He is highly regarded and well-liked by all students and staff. In 2009 Cameron was chosen to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC and New York. This year he was also selected to attend the Model United Nations Conference in Wellington, representing both his school and wider district. He has represented the province nationally as a swimmer, he coaches junior top level swimmers, is a member of the Rugby Academy and plays both the trombone and piano. He is supremely organised and a high-achieving super student.
• Highly Commended Super Student: Tama Porter (Waitara)
  Tama is a year 13 student at Waitara High School. He has excelled as a top achieving student for every year at the school.  He is a gifted musician who passed level 1 music in year 10, level 2 in year 11 and level 3 music during year 12.  He is sitting scholarship music and biology as well as studying chemistry, math with statistics, history and english. Tama represented Waitara High School at the opening of the New Plymouth Cathedral and was awarded first placing in four categories in piano at the New Plymouth Arts competition in July. Tama is the deputy head boy and a prefect helping to support younger students and acts as a peer tutor. Tama is a super student who has the respect of both staff and students alike. 

Female Sports Achievement Award

Winner Thea Awhitu (NP)
Thea is a member of the Box Office Boxing Club and has been competing only since April 2009. In this time she has become the top junior female boxer in New Zealand. She is undefeated in 11 bouts and has won numerous titles, including the Central North Island champion title 2009, the North Island Golden Glove Champion 2009, the North Island Novice Champion 2009, the Manawatu Champion 2009 and the Waikato Champion 2009. She was the first female to represent Taranaki at the National Boxing Championships and was the first female from Taranaki to win the Female Cadet New Zealand championship. She has been invited to attend the training camp for the New Zealand Female Elite Boxing Team. She made history by winning the most scientific overall junior boxer at the Manawatu Boxing Champs, an award more than 25 years old and Thea is the first female to ever win it. She is currently being considered for the first junior female world championships in May 2011.

• Highly Commended Female Sport Achievement: Casey Stevens (Oakura)
  Casey has shown huge commitment to her chosen discipline of Surf Life Saving, not only through competition but also through her service to the community in life guarding and swimming instruction. She has represented her club at a regional, national and international level and she looks set to be placed upon the world stage of this discipline. Casey is a role model to many in the youth community and has an absolute focus on health and well-being. Some of her other sports achievements include: Being a member of the 2009 New Zealand Knee Boarding team, first in the NZ Surf League 2010 beach flags, and representing Taranaki in cross country, road relays, round the lakes relays, the Taranaki relay team 2010, indoor netball, soccer, surfing, basketball and rowing.
• Highly Commended Female Sport Achievement: Nicole Sarten (Oakura)
  Nicole has been BMX racing for four years. In 2009 she competed in her first ever BMX World Champs in Australia where she made the final on her cruiser bike and finished an impressive sixth. She dedicated one full year for intensive training, consisting of two hours a day for six days a week to help improve her performance and in July 2010 she travelled to South Africa for the BMX World Championships. She competed in the 17+ women’s category on her 20” bike and came fourth, she then competed on her cruiser bike and won gold. Nicole is currently the world champion for her age group in this category. 

Male Sports Achievement

Winner Julian Beardman (NP)
Julian is a top-level sportsman, coach and referee. He is a member of the SPARC Taranaki Talent Development Squad and the recipient of the Francis Douglas Memorial College Sports Blues Award in 2010. He attended the AAU Junior Olympics in Los Angeles as a member of the NZ U18 inline hockey team, winning silver in the international division. His New Zealand team won gold against Australia at Oceania inline hockey championships 2010. He has been appointed the coach of the U12 representative team to compete at the New Zealand Inter-regional Championships over Labour Weekend and is a member of the U18 regional team. His team won national honours at the New Zealand National Championships and were awarded gold. He is the senior cross country champion at Francis Douglas for 2010 and was made a sports ambassador for New Plymouth District earlier this year. 

• Highly Commended Male Sports Achievement: Max Williams (NP)
  Max captained the New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks Team earlier this year when they competed in Germany at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament. In 2009 he captained the NZ U18 Team which competed in the Australasian Youth Olympics in Sydney, where they won bronze. Max is a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship recipient and has been recruited to the Pistons basketball team. He won Sportsman of the Year in 2009 at New Plymouth Boys’ High School (NPBHS), held the Head of House position and was nominated for the Daily News Sportsperson of the Year in 2009. 
• Highly Commended Male Sports Achievement: Dane Brooks (NP)
  From an early age Dane has shown exceptional sports ability. At the age of seven he started reading his dad’s sports magazines and was hooked on the importance of nutrition and physical activity. His sports successes to date include being a member of the U15 New Plymouth Basketball rep team, the U14 Taranaki cricket team and the NPBHS junior development team; winner of the Year 9 Taranaki high jump, and competing regionally in cross country. Dane has a strong sense of fair play and responsibility when it comes to playing any of his chosen sports.

Arts Award

Winner Amy Finnigan (New Plymouth)
Amy grew a love for performing arts from a very young age and through passion and hard work has accomplished many great achievements. She represented New Zealand at the World Performing Arts championships in July 2010 in Los Angeles. She was the most successful team member, winning a major sponsorship prize to attend the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. She completed her professional solo diploma in tap, ballet, jazz and musical theatre, receiving a special award for achieving 100 per cent in both jazz and ballet. She has represented her school and her region on national and international stages with an impressive list of achievements dating back to 1996. Amy has influenced many young aspiring performers in our community and she is determined to continue to strive for excellence and encourage others to follow their dreams.

• Highly Commended Arts: Cameron Betts (NP)
  Cameron has attention to detail and a drive for perfection. He is a 16-year-old young man who runs his own video production company. He has skills that have been utilised to film grass-roots rugby and the All Blacks’ visit to New Plymouth where he highly impressed commentary and production professionals. He has been involved with the 48-hour Film Challenge and online productions locally, and many local experts in the field view Cameron’s work as extremely professional and encourage him to peruse the field of video art. Cameron hopes to further his career by attending the New Zealand broadcasting school to build on his writing film and editing skills.
• Highly Commended Arts: Waitara High School Year 11 Drama (Waitara)
  The Year 11 drama class at Waitara High School had very limited drama or media exposure prior to coming together this year. The group started the year by entering and winning the Taranaki Land Wars film competition in March this year, where they won best film production, best actor and best script. Since this success they have gone on to write, storyboard, rehearse and film a modern dance piece entitled Moa Hunter, a film containing an important message about environmental sustainability. They have also recently completed the first of two instalments of a radio play entitled Barbarian of the Cosmos which has been playing on local radio and receiving fantastic reviews.

Music Award

Winner Jacob Burton (NP)
Jacob recently astonished crowds with his flute solo in the Taranaki Youth Orchestra’s Midwinter Fantasia concert in June this year. He performed a technically demanding piece (Chaminade Concertino) to a capacity audience of music lovers and experts. Jacob has been learning the flute for six years and has worked his way through the Trinity Guildhall grades and is preparing an ATCL recital programme in November, for which a high level of standard, dedication and practice is required. He has been a member of the Youth Orchestra for five years and has played in his school concert band and chamber music groups. He has won the Woodwind Scholarship in various age groups and regularly entertains local rest homes and families at Hospice. The Dame Malvina Major Foundation has supported Jacob in his musical endeavours and he is considered by many to be a fine role model for up and coming young musicians.

• Highly Commended Music: Shukura Chapman (NP)
  Shukura gained the highest marks in drumming grade 8 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, recognised with silver certificates from both countries. Shukura auditioned and was accepted into a performing arts course in Australia that led to her being featured on the high-rating television programme Home and Away. She has amazing dedication and determination to succeed. She teaches drumming and dancing during the week and humbly continues to peruse her passion, making many sacrifices to keep the desire of stardom alive and well.
• Highly Commended Music: Levi Lowe (NP)
  Levi has a strong interest in music and has been encouraged to utilise his skills as a therapeutic intervention. Levi has persevered and overcome many social barriers in his young life. With the help of the Taranaki START programme he has addressed some generational issues and is now in a healthier, more resilient place in his life. Levi wrote and composed a song about his journey to date. After overcoming self-doubt about his ability to perform, he was encouraged to perform at a New Plymouth singer/songwriter event where he received a standing ovation from the crowd. He is now attending training workshops with the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand and has performed on Community Radio, Access FM.

Youth Development Award

Winner Vance Hoskin (Oakura)
Vance has a natural ability to lead and encourage others, in particular other children and young people. He is a recent graduate of the Conservation Corps YMCA programme which is designed to help guide youth toward a career path. His tutor commended Vance for his leadership qualities and proactive attitude. He is passionate about physical activity and achieves in any area he applies himself to. He is a sponsored skateboarder and was nominated as player of the year for his football team. His reputation and outgoing manner recently resulted in him being asked to be the ‘youth face’ for the Taranaki-wide anti-violence campaign ‘It’s NOT OK’. Vance was selected because of his reputation and ability to connect with the youth community. He is considered a great ambassador for youth development by the Taranaki Safe Families Trust and the 25 organisations the trust represents.

• Highly Commended Youth Development: Alexander Rayner (NP)
  Alex has made tremendous social, personal and educational development in the previous 12 months. He finished high school with no formal education qualification, limiting his career options. Determined to prove he could do it and that he was worthy of gaining his NCEA qualification, Alex joined the Y’s Up programme at the YMCA. On this course he successfully completed and gained his NCEA levels 1 and 2 and then applied for and was accepted into employment on a Community Max project where he was part of a team that worked on building refurbishment, gaining skills in construction and painting. Alex hopes to continue to build on his skill base and achievements.

Employee/Trainee of the Year Award

Winner Katie Barriball (NP)
Katie is acknowledged for her hard work, dedication and loyalty to her employer 42 on King Hair Designers. While working there she completed her national certificate in hairdressing (completing a three-year apprenticeship) and in 2009 was put through a Leadership in Management course by the owners to further build on her natural leadership qualities. She flourished and showed so much promise she was asked to relocate to Hamilton to manage and open a second 42 on King salon. After eight months of lead work at the new salon she returned to manage the New Plymouth salon. She manages a team of six stylists who she considers a wonderful team to guide. Katie has a large client base who consistently return, not only for her hairdressing talent but for her personable nature and great sense of humour. Her employer wishes to celebrate Katie’s efforts and contributions to the success of their business.

Mayor’s Choice Award

Winner: Mikaere Gardiner (NP)
Mikaere is a young person passionate about art. He has gained great satisfaction from producing art that can be freely appreciated by the public in the form of murals around New Plymouth and the free gallery space he recently opened in town. He regularly donates his own time and materials to his murals and exhibitions, hoping to create visual stimulation and broaden the artistic range of the district. He was the Found Object section winner at the 2009 National Youth Art Awards and has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at WITT majoring in painting. He hopes to start his own mural business based in New Plymouth to encourage budding young artists and their families.

Winner: Kareshma Martin John Patrick (NP)
Kareshma is a 12-year-old who thrives on a passion for music. She participates in concerts and competitions in both piano and singing. Her most recent venture was in the song writing competition held by Caritas called Sing 4 Justice. Among 2,000 participants throughout New Zealand, Kareshma received a very impressive sixth, and was the only Taranaki representative to compete. She has been playing piano for six years and this year gained two third placings and one first in the 2010 Piano Competitions. In 2009 she gained the Kohine Hiranga Cup (given to the student who shows general overall achievement in Year 7), and she was also awarded the Intermediate Music Medal.

Winner: Edward Rawles (Inglewood)
Edward is an 18-year-old triathlete and a member of the New Zealand High Performance Squad. He represented New Zealand in the junior elite level in 2010 at the World Triathlon Championships in Budapest, Hungary. In 2010 his best results at the junior elite level have included a sixth place; first Kiwi home at the Trans-Tasman Challenge in Canberra, Australia; a third placing at the London Triathlon in England; and first place at the Lausanne Triathlon in Switzerland. Edward is a fine athlete who has a huge amount of determination and dedication to his sport.  

2009 Winners

Male Sports Achievement Award

Male Sports Achievement Award

Winner: Dylan Dunlop-Barrett
Dylan is a year 13 student at Francis Douglas Memorial College and an outstanding young swimming athlete in both pool and Surf Life Saving. He has gathered an amazing number of Taranaki pool swimming records – 17 short course records and 21 long course records. He holds the New Zealand age group records for 17-year-old boys in both the short and long course 15,000m freestyle events. In 2008 Dylan represented New Zealand in the Oceania Championships and was also part of the New Zealand Trans-Tasman Team for under 17s where he broke the New South Wales All Comers record for 800m freestyle. He also represented New Zealand in Guam at one of the world’s premier junior events the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, placing an impressive and credible 5th and 6th in events.

Matiu Welch (highly commended)
Matiu is a year 13 student at Waitara High School. In addition to him being the deputy head boy, Matiu has gained representative honours in rugby league. This year Matiu was selected to play for the Waitara Bears Men’s premier team which competed in the Taranaki Rugby League competition and also won the Western Alliance competition. Matiu was selected to play for the Taranaki Under 18 League team, and was also selected to represent New Zealand in the New Zealand Maori Under 18 league team which will play the Warriors Development Squad as a curtain-raiser to the NZ Rugby League team’s match against Tonga. In addition to his New Zealand representative status, he has excelled and represented his high school in rugby, soccer, basketball, volleyball, touch, softball, hockey, athletics and boys’ netball, and is the Taranaki Secondary Schools 8 Ball champion.

Julian Beardman (highly commended)
Julian coaches, plays and referees inline hockey. In 2009 he was appointed coach of the Ravens Under 12 inline hockey team which he lead to an unbeaten season and winning the 2009 Central Regional League, the Queen’s Birthday Junior Under 12, and the New Zealand National Champions Under 12 in September 2009. Julian is also a New Zealand representative and team captain of the New Zealand Under 16 squad which won a silver medal in Australia this year. He also captains the Francis Douglas Memorial College school team. He plays for the under 18s for the New Plymouth Ravens (winners of the Central Regional League) and is a member of the regional under 18 team.  Julian balances both playing the game and contributing to the growth and development of the sport by being a New Zealand level 1 inline hockey referee.  He hopes to continue to represent New Zealand in 2010.

Female Sports Achievement Award

Female Sports Achievement Award

Winner: Charlotte Webby
Charlotte puts countless hours into training in her chosen field of sport, swimming. She won the women’s section of the 2.8km Capital Classic Ocean swim held in Wellington this year, and at the New Zealand Open Swimming Championships she won the Women’s 1,500m freestyle, the 800m freestyle and the 200m butterfly. In August she represented New Zealand at the World University Games in Serbia, Bosnia. She won all seven events she entered at the Three Regional Grand Prix and was named the top senior female athlete.

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Claire Richardson (highly commended)
Claire is a hard-working and committed sportswoman. She has flourished in many areas of sport including cross country, rugby, cricket and swimming. She was the captain of the Sacred Heart Girls’ College rugby team and was selected to play for the Taranaki Girls A Team (also being named the captain for the squad), and is part of the Sacred Heart cricket team. She is acknowledged for her sporting achievements by her school for both her individual ability and for her team pursuits as a player and a leader.

Chloe-may Geurts (highly commended)
Chloe-may is an outstanding football goalkeeper. She has been involved in the Taranaki representative and Central Federation football teams and programmes for many years. Her talents have recently seen her spend a week with the NZ U17 development squad, and she has been selected to be part of a team playing in the New Zealand national women’s league this season. She is a young woman with a passion for football and is committed to training and developing her skills further.

Community Service Award

Community Service Award

Winner: Sian Whelan
Sian is extremely passionate about helping others in her community. She does not seek any public recognition for her efforts but purely does it for the love of her community. Sian has voluntarily contributed to many areas including: The Special Children’s Extravaganza (working with hundreds of children), being a road marshal for the Americarna Street Cruise, being a Relay of Life volunteer for the past three years, being a collector for the Women’s Refuge Annual Appeal, and being a runner for the annual Food Bank appeal. She is also currently working with an agency to support disabled youth. Sian simply wants to help make others happy and make our community a great place to live in.

Josh Lamb (highly commended)
Josh is described as an honest and reliable young man who takes pride in his community and church. He is committed to volunteering at many a charity and fundraising function including the Special Children’s Extravaganza, at which he devoted two entire days of his own time to supporting the set-up and the special children involved in the event.  He’s not afraid of getting his hands dirty and is cherished and highly valued by many young members of his church for his efforts.

Melissa Haydon (highly commended)
Melissa takes pride in being able to provide support and help to the elderly in rest homes. Residents describe her as ‘wonderful’, ‘polite’ and ‘a pleasure to have around’. Melissa does a variety of things to assist residents as they age including clipping and painting nails, reading to patients in the hospital wing, wheelchair walks outdoors, and playing board games with individuals to provide some company. She is dedicated to ensuring the elderly have a positive ageing experience. 

Eco-friendly Award

Eco-Friendly Award

Winner: Cameron Lacey
Cameron is a year 12 student at Inglewood High School who has contributed significantly to the eco-friendly initiatives of the school. He was the 2008 spokesperson for the Enviropower project in which Inglewood High School aimed to reduce energy expenditure by 20 per cent.  In 2009 Cameron became the spokesperson for the school’s Enviroschools team and spearheaded the Paper for Trees programme to increase recycling within the school. He has taken part in orchard planting, worm farm construction, insulation and earth-oven building. He has contributed greatly to both the school’s and the wider community’s awareness of environmental issues, and helped provide his school with eco-friendly assets for the future.

Music Award

Music Award

Winner: The Sacred Heart Tenners
The Tenners are recognised Taranaki-wide for their singing abilities. They perform at functions, community meetings, concerts and festivals. This year they created a national name for themselves in the national Big Sing competition held in Dunedin after winning the regional Big Sing competition. They were selected to perform alongside the top 24 choirs in New Zealand, making them the first Taranaki school in history to be recognised formally in the competition for their coral singing. The Official New Zealand Choral Federation members commented that the group ought to be an example to other choirs for the passion and joy they bring to the stage.

Youth Development Award 

Youth Development Award

Winner: Te Ahu Mane
Te Ahu has a ‘can do’ attitude in life. He enrolled on the YMCA Education Department’s Y’s Up course after realising he needed a bit of guidance with his educational goals in life. He is described as a shy and quite person with a hard-working desire to create pathways of success for himself, his family and his community. He is committed to up-skilling himself first and foremost so that he can then be an asset to his community. He has also been responsible for successful internet cabling of the YMCA Education building, helping create more educational opportunities for his peers and tutors. Te Ahu has a goal of achieving his NCEA Level 2 and his National Certificate in Employment Skills. If Te Ahu is successful he will be the first student ever on his course to achieve this level of accreditation. He openly acknowledges the struggles he has faced in life through varied social, cultural and economic hardships but has committed to proactively making changes to better himself physically, socially and academically for his whanau and community.

Cameron Betts (highly commended)
Cameron is a year 11 student at Francis Douglas Memorial College. He is a forward-thinking young man who constantly thinks of others. He has been involved with WAVE youth health for two and a half years, where he helps organise youth programmes and activities with the WAVES team. He has a passion for film and television production and contributes his time and technical skills to a safer streets programme by volunteering his time to help monitor the CBD with New Plymouth police.

Greg White (highly commended)
Greg is a go-getter with a keen interest in providing opportunities and activities for youth, namely his peers at New Plymouth Boys’ High School. He was instrumental in the efforts to organise a highly successful tennis competition and a hostel ski trip to Mt Ruapehu for years 9-13 boys. He enjoys creating events that foster healthy competition, with skill development as an added bonus. He is selfless in his contribution to the social and physical development of his peers and is celebrated by his school and community for this.
 

Arts Award

Arts Award

Winner: Erana James
Erana has an absolute passion for the arts, both as a performer and as an artist. From a young age she has spread her talent across many fields including ballet (at both social and competitive levels) and kapa haka, and most recently in the visual arts field. She was recognised for her artistic ability by winning the 2007 Top Maori Scholar award at Sacred Heart Girls’ College and was one of the very few students accepted straight from school to complete a Batchelor of Maori Visual Arts. A short film piece she exhibited earlier this year has been requested for use in collaboration with New Plymouth District Council’s Waitangi Community Korero workshop series in 2010. She currently has works on display at the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust Awards in Opunake, and her arts pieces are sought after by both local and national organisations.

Employee/Trainee of the Year

Employee/Trainee of the Year

Winner: Rakei Ngaia
Rakei is a youthful employee of Toiora Healthy Lifestyles Ltd. Toiora values Rakei as an employee for a number of reasons. Through his sheer commitment to the youth health area he completed training in both health and journalism to secure a position as a health promoter with Toiora. He has committed to up-skilling and ongoing training in the field, working toward a certificate in Health Promotion with Otago University. His topic area of expertise is currently designing, developing and delivering awareness programmes that address the issue of problem gambling in our community. He has presented at the National Problem Gambling Conference and has been invited to present at the International Problem Gambling symposium in 2010.  He was also the winner of the Maori Problem Gambling Workforce Award in 2009 – the Most Promising Worker Award – which was presented by Hon Tariana Turia. 

Lauren Waters (highly commended)
Lauren is employed by Subway Bell Block. During her year and half in employment, management have been impressed with her standard of work and level of customer service. She is entrusted with the closing process for the store, which involves delegating duties and monitoring other employees to ensure cleaning and customer needs are met. Lauren is a fast learner with an ability to adapt quickly to new aspects that arise within the role. She is highly valued by her employer and other staff members. 
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Cultural Development Award

Cultural Development Award

Winner: Te Rehua Cameron
Te Rehua is a young, vibrant and culturally talented Maori woman. She has from a young age contributed to her whanau, hapu, iwi and the wider community. She makes personal sacrifices to ensure that tikanga and cultural values are upheld in the community. She has actively sought to revitalise te reo Maori in the community by working in Maori media and continually up-skilling her own language base. She has a role as a cultural advocate for Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki, and is a youth representative on the National Jigsaw Board for Flourishing Families and Nurtured Children. She also assists young Maori women in her role as a facilitator in family violence and education groups. Her contribution and commitment to cultural development locally and nationally is invaluable.

Super Student Award

Super Student Award

Winner: Alison Chamberlain
Alison excels in her school work. She passed both NCEA levels one and two with 70 and 90 excellence endorsed credits. Alison is currently a year 13 student at Sacred Heart Girls’ College studying English, calculus, economics, chemistry, physics and religious education, and plans to sit four scholarship exams as well. She is a strong contender for dux at the college and actively organises and celebrates other students by organising excellence award assemblies and tutoring younger students. She is an academic leader to her peers and has participated in the O’Shea Shield, gaining five out of six marks for her efforts. This year Alison participated in the Auckland University Economics Challenge and gained a credit in this exam. 

Bethany Lowe (highly commended)
Bethany is in her final year at Spotswood College. She is highly respected by both staff and students for her outstanding academic ability, and has more than 28 credits, 87 merits and 58 excellence credits to date. She intends to sit for a scholarship in geography and English this year. She won the Rebecca L. Lynch Memorial Scholarship, which will see her study at the University of Idaho in 2010. She is viewed as a creative student with perseverance in all her work.

Jessica Richardson-Land (highly commended)
Jessica is a bright and bubbly, hard-working student. She recently achieved a 100 per cent in her mock NCEA exam in Spanish, the first time in five years a student at Spotswood College has achieved such a mark. She has achieved high marks in all of her other school subjects and is always available to help other students who are finding aspects of a subject difficult. She puts tremendous effort into all that she does and valued by her teachers and peers.

Mayor's Choice Award

Mayor's Choice Award

Winner: Kruze Tangira
Kruze is an exemplary sporting role model at Waitara High School. He has represented the school in volleyball, basketball, men’s netball and tennis, also helping to coach the Waitara High School girls’ netball teams. Kruze has played for the Taranaki Men’s Netball team since 2007 and was named the most valuable player of the tournament in both 2007 and 2009. Kruze has since gone on to play for the Auckland Men’s Netball Team in 2008 and 2009 in the national competition. In 2008 he was selected for the New Zealand under 23 Men’s Netball Team which travelled to Rarotonga earlier this year. Although netball is not a mainstream male sport, Kruze has extreme dedication and determination to represent New Zealand in this code.

Winner: Cole Mossman
Cole has a passion for waterskiing. He began competitive waterskiing at the age of eight and has progressed to win numerous regional and national titles. He competes in all three disciplines: Jump, trick and slalom. He has competed for New Zealand in the Australia/New Zealand challenge three years in a row, winning bronze in slalom in 2007. He has also represented New Zealand in France at the Junior World Championships and is currently training in London for the 2009 World Under 21 tournament. Cole has sacrificed many things to fuel his desire to train with the best in the world and constantly seeks opportunities to raise the profile of waterskiing.

Winner: Alex Geary
Three and half years ago Alex took up the sport of karting with the Taranaki Club in Waitara. He has since gone on to compete successfully in events around the country. He was recently presented with a trip to Japan with Yamaha for his sporting efforts in karting. He placed first in the New Zealand Championships this year and won the 2009 Toyota Fast Track award for a fully funded drive in one round of the Toyota Racing Series Lites 2009-2010. and wellbeing. This could be a volunteer or paid  position within the community.

2008 Winners

Sports Achievement – Hannah Sarten (Oakura)
(Highly commended: Danielle Trevis, Kane Barrett, Edward Rawles and Kate Broadmore.)
Hannah is the youngest person to have received the BMX Sports Woman of the Year, and is the only New Zealander to win back-to-back BMX world titles – having become world number one in her age group at the BMX World Championships in Canada in 2007, then winning in two classes this year and the world champs in China. Prior to this, Hannah has been the North Island number one BMX racer for four years in a row, and the New Zealand number one three years in a row.

Young Entrepreneur – Monday Skateboard Company (New Plymouth)
(Highly commended: Stirred and Jaccar Creations.)
The Monday Skateboard Company was formed 18 months ago by a group of motivated and passionate skateboarders. They have a desire to promote skateboarding and use their creative talents to design, source and manufacture their own products and to inspire other youth to ‘get off the couch’ and have some fun. The emphasis on their current line is to support quality New Zealand skateboard products. They are currently looking to expand the product line to grow their market share in the skateboarding sector. Due to their success, they have been in a position to contribute back to the community through events such as the Marfell Mana Day, Special Children’s Extravaganza and the START Taranaki Charity Auction.

Community Service – Nicole Richards (Spotswood College)
(Highly commended: Renee Hitchings and Jenny Larson.)
Nicole is described as having a social conscience and the ability to rally others and raise funds for good causes. This young person is a Year 13 student at Spotswood College. She gives her time to a number of committees, including the Student Council, Services Committee and the Magazine Committee. She visits Marfell Community School to help teach Spanish. She volunteers at Te Rangimarie Hospice cooking meals for patients and cleaning the premise, and also helps drive the Canteen cancer kids appeal in our community. She is an active member of the New Plymouth Volunteer Service, giving all her free time outside of her school studies to volunteering in our community.Return to top



Outstanding Apprentice/trainee – Dion Wharepapa (NP)
(Highly commended: Damien Coombe.)
Dion has been working at New World for five years. He started as a part-time cleaner in the butchery after leaving school, and his hard-working spirit soon earned him a fulltime butchery apprenticeship. He took up the opportunity and studied his National Certificate in Meat Retailing, Strands in Boning and Retail level 4, completing all units with high marks – and finishing what is traditionally a three-year apprenticeship in just over two years. He loves what he does and has made life-long friends in the process. He is so excited to be qualified and looks forward to a pay rise!

Employee of the Year – Kelly Cotter (NP)
(Highly commended: Brock Sibbick.)
Kelly has worked at Waves Youth Health Centre for the past 18 months with absolute loyalty and commitment to her work and for supporting other young people. She has a condition that has seen her in a wheelchair since her early teens, but this has not stopped her bringing her enjoyment of life to her peer support work at Waves. She does a range of jobs, from manning phones and running art design programmes with youth, to assisting medical and nursing staff with appropriate tasks. All the staff at Waves find her an amazing role model and a pleasure to work alongside.

Arts – Tess Hall (Sacred Heart Girls’ College)
(Highly commended: Alannah Matthews and Danica Brbich.)
Tess has trained in dance and drama for the past eight years. She is an extremely dedicated, talented and versatile young performer. During her Grade 3 and 4 years she was awarded 100 per cent in her ballet Royal Academy of Dance examinations, and she is now training for her Advanced One Level in Ballet, Advanced in Jazz and Level 5 Contemporary at the very young age of 13. She was recently awarded a two-week scholarship to attend the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne, which she will attend in early 2009, along with a study scholarship to attend the New Zealand School of Dance Winter School in 2009. She was the winner of the 2007 New Zealand Association of Modern Dance Scholarship in Wellington for Ballet.

Music – Tama Porter (Waitara High School)
(Highly commended: Geraint Scott and Caitlin McKee.)
Tama has been studying the piano for only five years but demonstrates extreme talent. He has attained Grade 8 with distinction for his piano examinations this year, and continues to gain levels of excellence in all his musical studies. He is year 11 at Waitara High School and contributes to his school and community by frequently playing at events. He has a huge commitment to strive and succeed with excellence. Tama delighted a judge so much with an impressive and skilled performance that he was recently named the Taranaki Young Musician of the Year.Return to top


Youth Development – Alexis Muir (SHGC)
(Highly commended: Phoebe Harrop and Brooke Muggeridge.)
Her contribution to youth development in our community is of a physical nature. Alexis volunteers her time to support the physical and sporting talent of many young people by umpiring school-based, district and regional teams in a number of codes. She coaches junior levels in basketball and was the coordinator of the Sacred Heart Girls’ High School’s umpiring programme, a member of the sports council, a Board of Trustees student representative, and production director of a Young Enterprise Scheme. She openly strives to encourage other young people to get active and stay active to enhance their overall development in life.

Community Development – Funders (New Plymouth Girls’ High School)
(Highly commended: Nathan Sole and Student Extension Project Coastal Taranaki.)
In the development of their Young Enterprise Team, Funders was challenged to consider doing something that would contribute positively to the wider community. The team broke new ground as there is no history of a Young Enterprise Team forgoing the opportunity to be profit-driven for a community-driven focus. Funders decided to form an event management service exclusively to not-for-profit organisations and charities. Many groups benefited from their service, including the SPCA, Foodbank, Waves and the Taranaki Cancer Society.

Cultural Development – Samoan Methodist Church Youth Culture Group (NP)
(Highly commended: Toioraroa Ngeru and Penny-Lynne Siebert.)
This group has been culturally involved in the community for more than 10 years. They have shared their cultural values, traditions, performance and food at the Multi-Ethic Extravaganza, performed at community events such as Waitangi Family Day, and were key to the welcoming of the Samoan Head of State to New Plymouth. The group visits numerous rest homes, hospital wards and homes for Christmas carolling every year. Their traditional cultural protocols are taught to schools, individuals and groups in the wider community. They are very proud of their heritage and openly share it with people of all backgrounds. Return to top


Mayor’s Choice Awards – Winners

Paige Hareb (Oakura): Paige is poised to become the first New Zealand woman to qualify for the Association of Surfing Professionals World Surfing Tour. She excelled so much in her first year out of the amateur ranks that she decided to contest the world qualifying series, and looks set to secure a place in the elite professional circuit in 2009. She has won three of the five Australian Pro-Junior series and her success has brought and will continue to bring positive coverage to our district.

Hinenui Wano (NP): Hinenui is 100 per cent committed to the health and well-being of other young people. She leads the Youth Health Team for the Health Promotion Unit and often goes over and above the call of duty to ensure young people are the focus of positive projects and events across our district. Every Friday night she voluntarily supports a youth group to provide activities that are fun and safe for youth. She leads by example as a positive Auahi Kore role model, and has a passion to work with young people of all ages and backgrounds.

Chris Maessen (Oakura): Chris is a gifted artist with an ability to capture the best skateboard footage in Taranaki. He has given up many hours over and above his own fulltime work commitments to assist his peers. He has a major role in promotional graphics, art design and filming for the Monday Skateboard Company. He recently held the launch of the How we Dooze It DVD at TSB Showplace: A two-year production on his behalf. Capturing this footage is not for the faint-hearted but he does it for the love of it, and to support youth development in our district.

2007 Winners

Community Service Award 2007

Winner: Anna Whaley (New Plymouth)
Anna contributes an enormous amount of time and energy to our community. She co-coordinated an initiative to have year 13 Sacred Heart Girls’ College students volunteer after school at Hospice Taranaki.  She organised an ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ initiative to spend time with elderly during lunchtimes and after school hours at the Mission Rest Home. Anna does voluntary surf patrol over the summer months, and also volunteers as a mathematic tutor and netball coach to other young people. She works at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre teaching young children how to swim and the importance of water safety, and helps to fundraise for Canteen NZ, Daffodil Day and the Women’s Refuge. She was awarded the Helping Others Together Leader award of 2007. Anna is enthusiastic and committed to working in her community to help make a difference.
Highly commended: Ben Bull (New Plymouth),  Zara Smith (Waitara)

Arts Award 2007

Winner: Katie Rudd (New Plymouth)
Katie is one of the top eight dancers in New Zealand. She has attended the Lynn Gilbert-Smith Dance Studio since the age of four and currently learns ballet, jazz and contemporary. She has competed locally and nationally at dancing competitions and this year competed at the Alana Haines Australasian Awards – a ballet competition of 150 top dancers from New Zealand and Australia. Katie recently won the Mazda Foundation Sapphire Jazz Award for the most versatile dancer over 14 years of age and the Jean White Memorial Scholarship, Taranaki’s major ballet award. She is to attend the New Zealand Academy of Modern Dance Awards in Wellington next month.
Highly commended: Danica Brbich (New Plymouth), Warutepu Wharehoka (New Plymouth)Return to top

Youth Development Award 2007

Winner:  Norman Dalton (New Plymouth)
Norman is a young man who has shown an outstanding contribution to Youth Health Development in New Plymouth District, specifically in relation to the WAVES Youth Health Service. He is a young man who has overcome a number of tough times as a developing young person, but despite the struggles he is committed to providing positive opportunities for other youth. Norman is a founding member of WAVES and has been fundamental to its success. He has presented at a several national conferences and has had the audience in tears with his story of resilience. WAVES is extremely proud to have this young man as a friend, colleague and youth-development role model.
Highly commended: Chloe Muggeridge (New Plymouth), Akshay Sridhar (New Plymouth)

Employee of the Year Award 2007

Winner:  Michael McLeod (New Plymouth)
Michael started working for the McDonalds Family Restaurant New Plymouth while he was a student. He is an extremely capable young man who runs shifts in the multi-million dollar business, managing at times a crew of 30 people. He was instrumental in lifting sales in the drive-through area of the restaurant whilst the re-imaging construction phase was at its height. Michael’s favourite word is ‘focus’ and that is what he does in every area of his work. He also currently studies through the McDonalds Management Development Programme. He has a great attitude and work ethic.
Highly commended: Loren Grieg (New Plymouth)Return to top

Most Outstanding Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Award 2007

Winner: Darren Knock (New Plymouth)
Darren is currently in his second year of an electrical apprenticeship. He has had both private and industrial experience working for E2 Consultants and Tenix Alliance. He is extremely hard working and has a broad knowledge and discipline in his field. He has gained experience in the previous two years in a number of areas; from the wiring of houses, to maintenance of large industrial power works, to working on off-shore rigs. As well as working a 40-hour week, Darren attends night classes and does odd jobs for family and friends to help gain additional valuable experience. He hopes to one day open his own business once he completes his apprenticeship.

Entrepreneur Award

Winner: Logan Sutton (New Plymouth)
At the age of 16 Logan wrote, published, marketed and distributed the book Max and Rastus: The Road they Travelled.  At the age of 18 he purchased his own house and set up the printing business Future Graphix in partnership with Murray Sutton.  In 2005 he co-purchased Taranaki Amusement Rides, re-branded it Bullseye Entertainment and built it up before selling his shares in 2006. Logan and his team have designed logos, brand names, printing and sign writing projects for many New Plymouth businesses, including Wadsworth Book Centre and the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust. Earlier this year he secured his first export contract, supplying the stencils for the South Pacific Games in Samoa. Logan’s successes to date are due to his dedication, determination and entrepreneurial skills.
Highly commended: Monday Skate Collection (New Plymouth and Oakura), Runway (New Plymouth)

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Music Award

Winner: Bryony Williams, NP.
Bryony is an accomplished singer, performer and musician. She has passed grade examinations for the Australian Music Examinations Board and Trinity College London, and passed with distinction the Performers Certificate for Trinity Guildhall London. As a singer, Bryony enjoys performing in all genres and styles: Art song and lieder, sacred works, folk music, Broadway musical and operatic aria. She has won during her years as a student the Diligence in Music Award, Junior Music Medal and the Intermediate Music Medal. She intends to complete a degree with the New Zealand School of Music.
Highly commended: William Sklenars (New Plymouth), Jonathon Folwell (New Plymouth)

Youth-Endorsed Space Award

Winner: WAVES Youth Health Centre
WAVES is a free service that supports the development of young people, their family and friends from ages 10-25 years. Its interior was designed and created with the help of young people. They have internet access, pool tables, fooze ball, kitchen facilities, jam sessions, art, sport and hip hop events which attract young people to the service. The centre provides a health service to young people that focuses on the areas of sexual health, drug and alcohol, and mental wellness. Waves is located in New Plymouth’s CDB. Young people sit on the services management team and the board.
Highly commended: Dynamite Bay Children’s ClubReturn to top

Cultural Development Award

Winner: Manukorihi Intermediate Kapa Haka group (Waitara)
Their school kaupapa is to, ‘Have students soar into the future with confidence – Whaia te pae tawhiti kia tata, Hikina te pae tata kia eke’. This group has made a significant contribution to enriching the cultural development of our district. Its members have performed for the Rt Hon Helen Clark, the American Ambassador to New Zealand William McCormack, Former Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Silvia Cartwright, Maori King Tu Heitia, and on a number of occasions New Plymouth District Council. The group has featured on Maori Television and TV1.  In November it will be attending the Australian Opti-MINDS competition representing New Zealand in educational challenges, cultural awareness raising and performing arts activities. Its members will also be engaging in a cultural exchange with an Aboriginal cultural group.
Highly commended: Talie Fuimaono (New Plymouth), Toioraroa Ngeru (New Plymouth)

Sports Achievement Award 2007

Winner: Victoria Hill (New Plymouth)
Victoria competes for New Zealand in BMX racing.  She has been number one in her age group for the last four years. In 2007 Victoria was named the 2007 National BMX junior woman champion, the North Island BMX junior woman champion, the Lonestar Superclass series champion, a member bike of the New Zealand high performance BMX squad, and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Oceanic number one ranked junior woman in the world.
Highly commended: Tyson Brandt (New Plymouth), Amber Bellringer (New Plymouth), Jake Blanks (New Plymouth)

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Mayor’s Choice Awards 2007

Lewis McAlister (New Plymouth)
Lewis plays for the Devon Intermediate 1st XV rugby team, which placed first in the junior Taranaki Touch Tournament and second in the New Zealand Rugby League Nationals. Lewis was named in the New Zealand under 13s rugby league team. He is the captain of the Devon Intermediate rugby league team which won the regional rugby league competition, from which he was selected for the Taranaki junior league team. He is a great all-round sports player who is celebrated by his peers and the school.
 
Design on T-Shirts (DOT)
DOT is a Young Enterprise Scheme team whose concept included a key health message to appeal to young people. Their product was specifically targeted at young women to help prevent the uptake of smoking. ‘Smoking NOT our future’ was the slogan they branded for their t-shirt design and marketed across the district. The Taranaki District Health Board’s Health Promotion Unit and the Ministry of Health were extremely proud of this group for leading the charge of promoting a smoke-free lifestyle in our community.

Maori Element (Waitara)
Described by their nominator as four amazing young men, these winners of the Mayor’s Choice Award make up the band Maori Element – a band that Waitara High School is extremely proud of.  They have written, performed and recorded their own music. They entered the Smokefree Rock Quest and were voted people’s choice at the Taranaki regional finals. The band has since become Smokefree ambassadors, promoting healthy lifestyle choices to their peers and the local community. Maori Element has mentored year 9 and 10 music classes, which has had an immense impact on positive youth development in the school.Return to top