Mana Pounamu Awards
June 30, 2026
The Mana Pounamu awards ceremony is an annual opportunity to celebrate the achievements of rakatahi Māori in secondary schools across Otago.
The objectives of the awards are to:
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Celebrate the success and achievement of rakatahi Māori
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Encourage rakatahi to participate in further tertiary study
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Identify leadership potential
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Provide positive role models for rakatahi Māori
From each Otago secondary school, one Teina (Years 9–11) and one Tuakana (Years 12–13) student may be nominated. Recipients are recognised for excellence across cultural, leadership, academic, community, or sporting areas.
Our 2026 Recipients
A massive congratulations to our incredible students this year:
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Taumuri Whatuira-Wereta (Teina)
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Lakaia Harris (Tuakana)
A Special Thanks: Congratulations and thank you to all the students who attended to perform the haka tautoko in support of the presentations. We also extend our gratitude to Marareira Carroll who, alongside Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, opened the ceremony beautifully.
