25 Years of Mana Pounamu: Honouring Rakatahi Māori Excellence

Matariki marked the 25-year milestone of the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards, a kaupapa that continues to uplift and celebrate rakatahi Māori excellence across the Ōtākou takiwā.

Since 2001, the awards have recognised the diverse talents and achievements of young Māori, encouraging aspirations toward tertiary education and beyond.

The vision for Mana Pounamu came from the late Alva Kapa (Kāi Tahu), a respected Ōtepoti educator. Although Alva sadly passed away before the first awards, her legacy lives on through this enduring celebration of young leaders.

In a recent interview with the Otago Daily Times, Alva’s daughter, Māori senior strategic advisor, Janine Kapa reflected on what inspired her mother:

"It came about when my mum saw the Class Act Awards in the late ’90s and she didn’t see many brown faces, she didn’t see many of our kids in there.

She felt we needed our own celebration because our young Māori students are shining stars and they’re achieving some amazing things."

The first awards ceremony was held twenty-four years ago at the Hutton Theatre at Tūhura Otago Museum, with twelve award recipients.

This year, for the first time, the awards were held in two separate sessions – one for out-of-town kura and one for Ōtepoti-based schools. Fifty-three awards were handed out during the two events.

As Mana Pounamu celebrates 25 years, it stands as a testament to the vision and aroha of Alva Kapa. Though she didn’t see the awards take shape, her belief in the brilliance of our rakatahi continues to shine through every award recipient.

Moe mai rā e kui, your moemoā lives on.

Mana Pounamu remains a proud Kāi Tahu-led initiative, supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arāiteuru, Otago Polytechnic, University of Otago, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Ministry of Education, and the Otago Daily Times.

The 2025 Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards recipients:

Tuākana (Years 12 and 13)

Hadley Farquharson (Cromwell College), Sky Sanders (Dunstan High School), Luka May (South Otago High School), Atlanta McDowell-Williams (St Kevin’s College), Ryan Enoka (Te Kura o Tititea/Mount Aspiring College), Portia Chambers (The Catlins Area School), Nirvana Collins (Tokomairiro High School), Ned Newlands-Carter (Waitaki Boys’ High School), Lilyrose Tuahine (Waitaki Girls’ High School), Elisabeth Purdue (Wakatipu High School), Sam Stoddart (Bayfield High School), Shanti Kara (Columba College), Andreis Fuatavai (East Otago High School), Jayden Toro (John McGlashan College), Wairangi Tunoho (Kaikorai Valley College), Jeremiah Tuhega-Vaitupu (King’s High School), Sophie Smart (Logan Park High School), William Munro (Otago Boys’ High School), Jade Wilson (Otago Girls’ High School), Jade Taani (Queen’s High School), Lola Murray (St Hilda’s Collegiate School), Sarah Evans (Taieri College) Tīrea Campbell (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti) and Evie de Graaf (Trinity Catholic College).

Tēina (Years 10 and 11)

Riley Dickey (Cromwell College), Eli Knights (Dunstan High School), Dakota Nicoll (Maniototo Area School), Kahtaralise Keil (Roxburgh Area School), Kyla Te Moananui-Currie (South Otago High School), Kuramairangi Ainsley (St Kevin’s College), Maia Wheeler (Te Kura o Tititea/Mount Aspiring College), Harrison Waaka (The Catlins Area School), Saffron Healey (Tokomairiro High School), Mana Fisilau (Waitaki Boys’ High School), Ruby Drummond (Waitaki Girls’ High School), Bailey Tiananga (Wakatipu High School), Hunter Moir (Bayfield High School), Honor Blaikie (Columba College), Sophie Hutcherson (East Otago High School), Kura-mātakitaki Stevens (John McGlashan College), Kotuku Wana (Kaikorai Valley College), Tūkitaharaki Pōtiki (King’s High School), Aria Molinari (Logan Park High School), Crew Wilson (Otago Boys’ High School), Lyla Ward (Otago Girls’ High School), Pipiata Ritchie (Queen’s High School), Xanthe Dillon (St Hilda’s Collegiate School), Cruize Douglas (Taieri College), Ngāki Kiore (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti) and Camila Barns (Trinity Catholic College).