Daughter repays NZ move with honour

By ELIZABETH BINNING

When Priya Prasad was born, her parents decided to pack up their lifein Fiji and move to New Zealand so their daughter could have a good education.

Seventeen years later that move seems to have paid off after she was named the country's top female Pacific Island student.

The top all-round Pacific Island male student title went to Auckland Grammar School student Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa.

Priya Prasad attended Columba College in Dunedin and studied languages, maths and science.

The quiet student worked hard throughout the year, juggling study with social outings and was rewarded with an A bursary.

She received 79 per cent in biology, 87 per cent in physics, 90 per cent in chemistry, 78 per cent in German and 85 per cent in maths with statistics.

German was the light relief among the maths and science.

Winning the title of top all-round female Pacific Island scholar was not something she expected.

"It's a bit overwhelming."

She is studying health science at Otago University this year and hopes to work in the same field after she graduates.

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