Applications are now closed for 2024!

E te iwi e...tēnā tātou. E rere ana ngā mihi ki a koutou, tātou e noho motu ana ki tēnā kura, ki tēnā kura

Tēnā koutou e te whānau. This year the Mana Pounamu Komiti are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting our annual celebration evening of Mana Pounamu recipients on Thursday 4th July, 2024. In a special alignment with the spirit of Matariki, the Maori New Year, we are embracing the opportunity to honour our outstanding young achievers during this time.

As with previous years, we look forward to celebrating your nominees as they continue to inspire us with their values and achievements, and as we thank you for your continued efforts to prepare and empower all students for their further tertiary studies.

Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards honour rakatahi Māori

He tāonga, he koha, he kura pounamu

The annual Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ celebrating the vast and varied achievements of rakatahi Māori (Māori youth) in secondary schools across Otago.

Each October, Mana Pounamu acknowledges the many wonderful accomplishments of rakatahi Māori, and aims to inspire them to consider tertiary education as a natural progression. The Awards provide an opportunity to showcase our future leaders, providing inspirational role models to other Māori youth across the province.

Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards

Alongside other colleagues dedicated to Māori education, the late Alva Kapa initiated the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards in 2001. The celebration was bestowed the title of ‘Mana Pounamu’ as it was first held in the Year of Mana Pounamu.  Mana Pounamu is a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arāiteuru, Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the Ministry of Education and the Otago Daily Times.

Mā te Atua e Manaaki

On behalf of the Komiti Kaiwhakahaere o Mana Pounamu 2024

Mana Pounamu Committee