Mana Pounamu 2023 | John McGlashan College

Sunday 29th October 2023

Celebrating our Mana Pounamu recipients for 2023.

On Friday 27th October the Mana Pounamu, Young Achievers Award ceremony was held at the Dunedin College of Education Auditorium. Hundreds of people attended the event and John McGlashan was well represented with tautoko from the kapa haka, Year 10 and Senior Reo Classes. We also combined with Columba to support their kura as well.

The late Alva Kapa initiated the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards in 2001. Mana Pounamu is a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arāiteuru, Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the Ministry of Education and the Otago Daily Times. It is perhaps the most coveted Māori award and draws in schools from around all of Otago.

But this award is about more than just a scholarship or leadership. As per the title - it is about mana. It is about recognising, affirming and raising the mana of our rangatahi. It celebrates their māoritanga and reminds them of how important and special that māoritanga is.

This year John McGlashan had two recipients. Serge Meeuws (Year 11) was the recipient of the Teina award. The Tuakana Award was won by Zavier Patterson (Year 13). Both gentlemen have shown great leadership in their whānau, their sporting endeavours and in uplifting tikanga and te ao Māori in the kura.

Congratulations to our recipients and thank you to all the students and staff who attended to tautoko the mana of our boys and school. It was a truly inspirational night to be immersed in kaupapa Māori and see all the amazing talent from around the rohe. It was also great to see how our group has grown since the previous year. They presented a confident and energetic haka led by Glenn Ericson. Next year it is hoped that the Mana Pounamu awards will be held during Matariki. We look forward to receiving all the whānau nominations of our rangatahi Māori.

For any whānau wishing to become more involved in kauapapa Māori at the school, we warmly invite you to become a part of the Māori and Pasifika Steering committee. You do not need to have any knowledge of reo or tikanga - just a wish to support the māoritanga and mana of your child and the school.