The winners of the Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards. Photo / Mark Coote
Some of the country's brightest Pasifika talent have been recognised in this year's Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards.
Five students received awards acknowledging their hard work and achievements in various areas: Leadership and inspiration, sport and fitness, business and enterprise, arts and creativity and science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
At an awards ceremony in Wellington tonight, Prime Minister John Key paid tribute to this year's winners: Leorida Peters, 17, Jarimar Schuster, 18, Grace Ligairi, 20, Sione Faletau, 24, and Antony Vavia, 19.
This year's prizes, sponsored by several organisations, include a trip to the UN Security Council in New York, a $6000 sports scholarship and $10,000 to invest in business growth and development.
The awards were established in 2010 by Mr Key in a bid to honour high-achieving Pacific youth.
Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said the awards were about celebrating Pacific youth who were achieving well - and encouraging them to continue to work hard.
"Ensuring that our young people thrive is crucial for our economy and culture. These awards are an investment in our country's future."
• Leadership & Inspiration award: Leorida Peters, 17, Auckland Girls' Grammar School
• Sport & Fitness: Jarimar Schuster,18, Scots College, Wellington
• Business & Enterprise: Grace Ligairi, 20, Whangarei
• Arts & Creativity: Sione Faletau, 24, Otara, South Auckland.
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics: A ntony Vavia, 19, South Auckland.
Awarded the leadership and inspiration award, sponsored by Air NZ. The 17-year-old will travel to New York to see New Zealand on the UN Security Council.
Leorida is the deputy head girl at Auckland Girls' Grammar School and was recognised for her leadership within the young Pasifika community at her school and wider Auckland area.
She is passionate about humanitarian and global issues and has been involved in projects including the Sir Peter Blake Youth leadership forum, the UN General Assembly Australia, the UN Youth Pacific project Samoa and Unesco Education for Sustainable Development conference.
Leorida has a particular passion for empowering young women to achieve and was also a leader for the AGGS PolyFest Samoan group.
Jarimar is the winner of this year's Sports and Fitness award, sponsored by the NZ Institute of Sport. He receives $6000 towards tuition fees to study at the NZ Institute of Sport.
The 18-year-old Scots College student from Wellington has been playing rugby since he was a toddler and one of his biggest dreams is to one day wear the All Black jersey.
Jarimar started making a name for himself on the rugby field as a student at St Patrick's College, before he moved to Scots College.
A broken leg set him back briefly, but he was named the recipient of the prestigious Rugby Colours award at his school this year and is now coaching a rugby holiday programme for 7 to 10-year-olds.
Grace Ligairi wins the business and enterprise award for a product she hopes will one day help many within the hospitality industry.
The 20-year-old, from Whangarei, is currently in the development process for a product she has dubbed the Slyd'InHolder Tray.
The tray has set features which helps waiters to easily carry beverages without tipping them as well as presenting them in a tidy way.
Grace came up with the idea for her special tray while working as a waitress.
"I have a comprehensive business plan, a perfected prototype and interest in the product domestically and internationally," she said.
"The sooner it comes, the better is what I'm hearing."
Grace currently works for a restaurant and recruitment agency in Whangarei.
She receives $10,000, sponsored by the Pacific Business Trust and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, to go towards the business growth and development for her product.
Born and raised in Otara, South Auckland, Sione Faletau picks up the Arts & Creativity award.
The 24-year-old will receive $10,000 to fund a paid internship or residency at an NZ arts organisation or put towards an arts project. The prize is sponsored by Creative NZ.
Sione studied at the University of Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts, where he gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours (first class), as well as a masters degree with first class honours.
His art works have been shown in a number of galleries around Auckland.
Many of his works touch on his identity and struggles of being a young Tongan in New Zealand.
This South Aucklander is so determined to do well in science that he refers to himself as a "hero marine biologist".
The 19-year-old won a first-year Marine Biology Scholarship to AUT last year. This year, he receives the PM's Pacific Youth Award recognising achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
He wins $10,000 to go towards funding learning and development opportunities and an option to take up a $5000 scholarship towards study at the University of Waikato. The prize is sponsored by Youthline, Ako Aotearoa and the University of Waikato.
Antony, who hails from the Cook Islands and Fiji, said he had a great love for the Pacific Ocean, aquatic life and scientific research. He hoped his skills would one day provide many economic benefits for Pasifika communities.