Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards open

The search is underway to find some of the country’s highest achieving Pacific young people.

The 2015 Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards offer the chance to highlight the success of young Pacific people in New Zealand.

“Our government recognises that the Pacific community are one of the largest and youngest populations in New Zealand. Making sure they thrive is crucial for the country’s economic and cultural future,” says Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

“The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards, established in 2010, recognise and reward high-achieving young Pacific New Zealanders who have potential to make a big contribution to New Zealand.

“Young Pacific people have so much to offer in many ways and I encourage them to apply for these awards,’’ says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

The five award categories are:

Leadership & Inspiration - Sponsored by Air New Zealand

This award recognises a young person who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities by leading a project in their community, church or school or has acted in a way that has inspired others to make a positive change in their lives.

Business & Enterprise - Sponsored by Pacific Business Trust and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

This award recognises a young person or group of young people who have demonstrated commercial acumen through a business or social enterprise activity.

Arts & Creativity - Sponsored by Creative New Zealand

This award recognises a young person who has demonstrated a significant level of achievement in the arts or has used the arts to effect change in their community.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - Sponsored by Waikato University, Ako Aotearoa and Youthline.

This award recognises a young person for significant academic achievement in the above subjects.

Sports & Fitness - Sponsored by New Zealand Institute of Sport

This category recognises a young person or group of young people for extraordinary achievement in their chosen sport or for making an outstanding contribution to sports and fitness activity in their community.

Applications open tomorrow and close on 2 November, 2015. More details are  available here www.pacificyouthawards.org.nz