Rebekah Thomas was the Kaikorai Valley College recipient of the 2013 Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards. This award came about through the vision of the late Alva Kapa and is a Ngāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Araiteuru, The Otago Polytechnic, the Ministry of Education, the University of Otago and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and other supporting sponsors. Rebekah’s whānau were delighted.
The objectives of the Mana Pounamu Award are to celebrate the success and achievement of rakatahi Māori and to encourage rakatahi Maori to participate in tertiary study. The award also identifies leadership potential and provides positive role models to rakatahi Māori. This year’s awards were held in the University of Otago, College of Education auditorium in November.
The evening was opened by Patrick Tipa of Te Rūnanga o Moeraki. After each presentation there was a waiata of support and haka tautoko by each of the kapa haka groups in support of their recipient. The evening ended with a speech, followed by a delightful hāngī-style dinner in the College of Education staffroom.
Rebekah is the third of the Thomas rakatahi to have been presented with the award. David Thomas was the first of the trio and with his scholarship award, he attended two years at Otago Polytechnic, where he graduated with qualifications in outdoor leadership and management.
He then went on to University of Otago, where he gained a science degree. From there, he spent a year at the College of Education before graduating as a secondary school teacher. He is currently teaching outdoor education at Kaikorai Valley College.
Sarah Thomas was also awarded the Mana Pounamu Award and is currently attending Otago Polytechnic, where she is also studying outdoor leadership and management. This year it was Rebekah’s turn to be presented with the award.
The Thomas whānau would like to recognise and acknowledge Kaikorai Valley College for the encouragement and support that they have given the three Thomas rakatahi. All three have attended the Outward Bound course at Anakiwa and have all been awarded the Mana Pounamu Award.
Nā Graeme Thomas.
Graeme and Ruth Thomas with their son, David.
Rebekah (left) and Sarah Thomas.