Embargoed until 8:00pm, Monday 28 July 2014
Winner of Youth Spirit Award Announced
Two of the Far North’s talented and generous youth were acknowledged tonight through the Trustpower Youth Community
Spirit Award, with Cody Makaua of Te Kura Taumata o Pangaru being named as the Winner of the Award.
Run in conjunction with the Trustpower Far North Community Awards, the Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award
recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community.
The Award is jointly run by Trustpower and the Far North District Council and local high schools were asked to recommend
one student to be considered for the Award. The runner-up for this Award is Melissa Chapman from Springbank School.
The Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award celebrates the work young people do to enrich their community and is open to
all students who have given service to school or community projects, treated others with care and respect and been a
good ambassador for the school and the Far North rohe.
Trustpower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says the Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award is a
great opportunity for a generous student with a big heart to be formally acknowledged and congratulated.
“Cody is a special kind of student who despite a busy academic programme and sporting commitments chooses to lend his
time to a variety of projects and causes at his school and in the community. At his kura this sees him twice a week
teaching his peers Kapa Haka and Mau Rakau, a martial art practise based on traditional Maori weapons that establishes a
foundation of cultural identity. If it weren’t for Cody’s lessons many of these students would not be involved in an
extracurricular activities afterschool.
“A big advocate for student voice, Cody is also a Board of Trustees Student Representative, is the male leader for the
schools Kapa Haka group, he leads various haka and waiata and he is the group’s guitarist. As an accomplished Nga Manu
Korero speech competition winner and through his contributions to performing arts he is a positive role model for
Polynesian and Maori rangatahi.
“Out in the community Cody is a is a member of the Kohukohu volunteer fire brigade and male leader of the Northland
Catholic Youth Group where he helps teach Christian values in fun ways to youth, organise activities and a camp.
“As a coach, student representative and humble, unassuming leader he is a very deserving winner of this Award and it is
an absolute pleasure to highlight some of his achievements tonight”, says Miss Somerville.
For winning the Award Cody will receive a trophy, framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 being given to a
community group or organisation of his choice.
The Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award will be presented at the Trustpower Far North Community Awards, being held
at Te Ahu tonight on Monday 28 July.