Young Achievers Awards

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Young Achievers' Awards

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.

The 2008 Young Achievers Award nominations open 22 September 2008.  The award ceremony to be held on Thursday 30 October 2008.

Nomination forms will be available from all district high schools, district libraries and the New Plymouth District Council.

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