Young leaders recognised in Rangitīkei Youth Awards

Nga Tawa Diocesan award recipients Georgina Bryant (left), Kathryn Fleming and Olivia Doughty. Photo / Nga Tawa Diocesan School

Eleven young leaders have had their work recognised as Rangitīkei District Council's Youth Awards winners.

Recipients at schools across Rangitīkei were visited by the Youth Council and judging panel who presented them with their awards.

The awards, now in their fifth year, are presented to young people between the ages of 12-24 who have contributed to the Rangitīkei District in the last 12 months in areas outside their normal education or employment.

Different categories include sport, environmental awareness, the arts, spirituality and cultural work.

An awards evening was originally planned for May and later rescheduled to August, however both were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Instead, members of the Youth Council and judging panel travelled around the district, presenting the awards to recipients in their home towns.

Rangitīkei District Council Strategic Advisor for Youth Kelly Widdowson said the awards were an important way of recognising the incredible achievements of young people in the community.

"It's really great to meet these awesome young people and getting our youth council out there engaging with them," Widdowson said.

This year 50 young people were nominated for an award, slightly down from last year's 76. Widdowson puts this down to the Covid-19 disruption, and says the nominations still represent "a big win".

Nga Tawa Diocesan student and Rotary Leadership Award recipient Kathryn Fleming said the awards were "really important" for young people in the community.

"It really shows how many amazing young people we have in our district. Our youth need to be recognised," she said.

The judging panel for the awards included Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson and Deputy Mayor Nigel Belsham, as well as community and iwi representatives.

The awards are part of Rangitikei District Council's wider youth programme which includes the Youth Council, as well as youth "hang-out" spaces in Taihape, Marton and Bulls.

Rangitikei Youth Award Winners

Jack Murrell - Fortuna Forest Products Youth in Employment Award
Kathryn Fleming - Marton Rotary Leadership Award
Olivia Doughty - River Valley Eco Warrior Award
Emile Richardson & Isabella Wassilieff - Hautapu Pine Youth in Sport Award
Rohan Gower - The Downs Group Giving Back Award
Monique Whiteman - New World Marton Youth for Youth Award
Georgina Bryant & NTDS Wellbeing Council - Fortuna Forest Products Youth Group Award
Jack Inwood - Nga Wairiki O Ngati Apa Youth in Apprenticeships Award
Te Arawa Ratana - BJW Motors Change Maker Award
Musiluka Junior Mareko-Leupolu - Rangitikei Anglican Parish Wairu for Wellbeing Award