Yesterday, Lula crossed the University of Otago College of Education stage to accept a Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Award.
She was the third child in her family to cross the stage.
‘‘My older brother and older sister got it as well, so it is a big honour.’’
Her parents were in the crowd, and Lula said they were proud.
Lula also received an award in 2022 as a year 9 pupil, so it was a ‘‘full circle moment’’ yesterday.
‘‘This is really important to me ... it’s an honour, and I’m really happy to get this.’’
She thought the award was a collation of all her achievements over her time at Columba College. Lula has performed at the Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition, she is in the Otago Spirit wider rugby training squad, and is her school’s deputy head prefect.
The awards are held to recognise the achievements and potential of Māori youth in secondary schools throughout Otago.
A total of 52 students received awards yesterday.
The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards were the vision of the late Otago and Southland Māori teachers’ adviser and Ngā Puna Waihanga National Council member Alva Kapa, and were named as such because they were first held in the year of Mana Pounamu (2001).
Recipients are:
Years 12 and 13: Moana-Alev Turkmen (Blue Mountain College), Rocco Patterson (Cromwell College), Taituha Fowler (Dunstan High School), Nate Spooner (Maniototo Area School), Jorja Andrews (South Otago High School), Okeroa Jamieson (St Kevin’s College), Rāhana Brett (Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College), Astrid Morrison (The Catlins Area School), Sarah-Jane Norman (Tokomairiro High School), Samuel Tipa (Waitaki Boys’ High School), Harmony Atarangi Robinson (Waitaki Girls’ High School), Thomasin Paerangi Ryan Wright (Wakatipu High School), Nuku Te Rangi Takaroro Deans Ritchie (Bayfield High School), Lula Joseph (Columba College), Lakaia Rangimarie Harris (East Otago High School), Jonty Ellis (John McGlashan College), Azariah Hughes (Kaikorai Valley College), Zane Rakete-Grey (King’s High School), Noelle Hill (Te Kura Tuarua o Kapua o te Raki Logan Park High School), Kaedyn Trow (Otago Boys’ High School), Macy Crossan (Otago Girls’ High School), Nerida Gawn (Queen’s High School), Mia Wall (St Hilda’s Collegiate School), Sienna Forgie (Taieri College) Ratana Kahukura (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti) and Riley Matthews (Trinity Catholic College).
Years 10 and 11: Ariana Cherry (Cromwell College), Keria Waitoa (Dunstan High School), Kahtaralise Keil (Roxburgh Area School), Indianna Hepi (Maniototo Area School), Kaya Leevey (South Otago High School), Kaycee Mae Gibbins (St Kevin’s College), Lianna Waitoa (Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College), Malakai Stapleforth-Hill (The Catlins Area School), Tyrell Fraser (Tokomairiro High School), Sigley Kamo (Waitaki Boys’ High School), Ella Te Aotaumarewa Fiaigoa Faau (Waitaki Girls’ High School), Kora Frisby (Wakatipu High School), Sam Crawford (Bayfield High School), Ariana Cherry (Columba College), Taumuri-Apera Nanakia Wereta Whatuira (East Otago High School), Noah Ariki Bagley Konia (John McGlashan College), Campbell Tate (Kaikorai Valley College), Jesse-Alan Taylor (King’s High School), Eloise Beattie (Te Kura Tuarua o Kapua o te Raki Logan Park High School), Tāmati Mattews (Otago Boys’ High School), Molly Gilbert (Otago Girls’ High School), Ora Winklemann (Queen’s High School), Te Haeatanui Stevens (St Hilda’s Collegiate School), Lucia Akiyama (Taieri College), Tui Peke (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti) and Manaia Batson (Trinity Catholic College).
