The Mana Māori Awards are a celebration of Māori student excellence across our kura from Year 9 to Year 13. The evening was also a time to farewell our largest graduating Year 13 cohort, leaving with a gifted tāonga, aroha and best wishes for all their future endeavors.

The prizegiving evening honoured students for their outstanding achievements and commitment to their learning, Te Reo Māori and Kapa Haka. Awards also recognised top students from Te Rito Rūmaki as well as our top Māori distinction award winners. Special recognition went to our Ngā Toa o Mua, our Y13 Māori students who showed exceptional leadership throughout the year.

It was a fantastic celebration that began with kai and whakawhanaungatanga, with whānau and friends enjoying delicious hangi cooked on-site by our Komiti Māori staff. During the awards, there was a beautiful performance by Maddison Meredith and Bella Frost singing the duet that won them the school talent quest this year.

The end of the night was tinged with sadness, but also gratitude, for Mātua Troy Bond, who is leaving after 5 years at Waitākere, serving as a kaiako for the past three. His unwavering support of Māori students throughout the kura, and his passion for the Rūmaki bilingual programme and Kapa haka were highlighted by the students who stood to honour him and wish him all the best. 

Ngā mihi nui to all the whānau, kaiako and ākonga who made this night a memorable evening.

Distinction Awards

Te Taonga Hūmārie - Natalia Royal
Mana Wāhine - Lhani-Aroha Maagdenberg
Tu Tama Tāne - Shanacenne Tohu
Te Mahi ā Te Rēhia - Rosie Dent
Te Taonga Puāwaitanga  - Vera Lavers
Te Rangimārie Award - Harmony Bradley
Makoro - Outstanding contribution to Sport - Shanacenne Tohu
Pikorua - Outstanding achievement in Arts and Culture - Bella Frost
Te Kauri - Outstanding achievement in Ngā Ara Umanga (Vocational Pathways) - Milla Lauvale

Top Academic Awards

Te Kotahitanga Tuakana - Top Senior Māori Academic Achiever - Caitlyn King
Te Kotahitanga Teina - Top Junior Māori Academic Achiever - Kharess Walker-Hemana

Top Te Rito Rūmaki Awards

Year 9 - Te Mahara Whakatau - Scarlet-Rain Mangu Araipu
Year 10 - Te Hinengaro Whakaoho - Tahlia Severs
Year 11 - Te Whakaaro - Tame-John Maagdenberg
Year 12 - Te Whē Whakawhanake - Rosie Dent
Year 13 - Te Wānanga Whakatinana - Natalia Royal

Top Māori Medical Science Awards

Year 13 - Morgynn Edwards-Pulman
Year 12 - Maddie Harvey
Year 11 - Hanja Linton-Ozich

Top Year 10 Academic Students

Te Ao Tangata - Kharess Walker-Hemana
English - Tahlia Severs
Maths - Kharess Walker-Hemana
Science - Māui Kipa

Top Year 9 Academic Students

Te Ao Tangata - Hugo Goff
English - Anahera Kairau
Maths - Leah Hill
Science - Paige Daniels

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