Rangitīkei College head girl Denise Pio won the Overall Youth Award and the Manukura Leadership Award at the John Turkington Forestry Rangitīkei Youth Awards. Photo / Rob Edwards
Rangitīkei College head girl Denise Pio won the Overall Youth Award and the Manukura Leadership Award at the John Turkington Forestry Rangitīkei Youth Awards. Photo / Rob Edwards
The Rangitīkei Youth Awards night celebrated eight outstanding young people in the district, with Rangitīkei College head girl Denise Pio receiving the top honour.
The John Turkington Forestry Rangitīkei Youth Awards is an annual event that recognises the contribution of young people in the district.
A record 66 nominees acrosseight categories were put forward for awards this year.
Nominees must have contributed to the district and participated in their activities over the past 12 months. They must be aged between 12-24 years at the beginning of Youth Week.
“It was quite overwhelming, I think I’m still processing how that went – it was very unexpected,” Pio said.
“It’s a big thing, I wasn’t really sure how to feel when it happened.”
Pio plans to study at Victoria University of Wellington next year, enrolling in animation and business degrees.
Other recipients include Te Arawa Ratana (Youth of Hope), Eva Dreliozis (Youth in the Arts), Jack Inwood (Youth in Work Development) and Poppy Priddle (Youth in Sport).
Isobel Phyn and Olivia Ward won the Rural Youth Awards for Northern and Southern Rangitīkei respectively.
Ketana Musgrove, Aaron-Lee Sime and Tseleste Tahau received the Youth Eco Warrior Award.
The 2025 John Turkington Forestry Rangitīkei Youth Awards celebrate rangatahi across the region. Photo / Rob Edwards
Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson, a member of the judging panel, was impressed with the level of talent in the district.
“The standard and applications and nominations blew my mind,” Watson said.
“There were people competing on the national stage from our district that we were not fully aware of.”
He said Pio was an “absolute standout” who could have won in more categories.
Watson congratulated all recipients as well as the Rangitīkei District Council youth team for organising the event.
“Some of them that won awards were ‘once-of-a-generation’-type people that come along so it was absolutely fitting.”
Rangitīkei Youth Council chair Cyria Lowrie said Pio was indeed “one of a kind”, who led, inspired and uplifted those around her.
“She’s the type of rangatahi [youth] that radiates excellence in everything she does, whether she’s in the classroom, on stage, in the community, church or with whānau. She brings her full heart, energy and dedication.”
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
