Calling all young Pacific people in Aotearoa creating positive impact in the community and accomplishing great things in your chosen field – the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) want you to apply for the 2019 Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards (PMPYA).
Supported by MPP, the PMPYA recognise Pacific individuals in New Zealand creating positive impact, as well as their accomplishments in various fields.
Any young person aged between 17 and 24 years, who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of Pacific descent, can apply for an award.
The Ministry is pleased to announce applications are now open until July 7 as it wants to enable as many Pacific youth as possible to apply.
This year there are nine categories you can apply for, ranging from business, charity, innovative research and creative arts, with 11 awards up for grabs - each award is valued at $10,000.
The categories are:
- Leadership and Inspiration Award - sponsored by Air New Zealand and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.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 which inspires others to make a positive change in their own life or the lives of others. The winner of this category will receive one week of activities for an overseas Diplomacy posting.
- Arts and Creativity Award - sponsored by Creative New Zealand and Massey University. This award recognises someone who has demonstrated a significant level of achievement in the arts or creative fields or has used the arts or creativity to effect change in their community. Up for grabs is a paid internship or residency with a New Zealand arts or creative organisation; a contribution to an approved arts or creativity-related course of study with Massey University at the College of Creative Arts; or funding for an approved arts or creative project (or a combination of these).
- Commercial and Corporate Award - sponsored by Deloitte, this award will be presented to someone who has shown significant academic achievement or business activity in the fields of commerce, accounting, marketing, international business or similar. The winner of this category will receive a paid internship in Wellington or Auckland with Deloitte.
- Community Star Award - sponsored by Auckland Council, two inspirational young people who have made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of their local community will be recognised in this category. The winners will each receive a three months' paid internship at Auckland Council.
- Health and Wellbeing Award - sponsored by the Ministry of Health, this award recognises a Pacific young person who has shown significant academic achievement in a health or disability-related course or qualification, and made a significant contribution to the health and Wellbeing of their local community. A paid internship at the Ministry of Health in Wellington is on offer.
- Business and Entrepreneurship Award - sponsored by Pacific Business Trust, the winner of this category will be someone who has demonstrated entrepreneurial qualities through involvement in a business or social enterprise activity and they will receive a business grant valued at $10,000.
- International Scholar Award - sponsored by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF), this award of $10,000 recognises a young person who epitomises the strong positive relationship between New Zealand and the Pacific region through their leadership, community service (both New Zealand and home nation) and academic performance. PCF will need to agree on how the prize money is spent.
- Language, Culture and Identity Award – this award is sponsored by MPP, and it recognises someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities by leading a project in their community, church or school or has inspired others through their language and culture to make a positive change in their own life or the lives of others. The winner will complete a paid internship at MPP.
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Award – sponsored by Fonterra and Riddet Institute – two winners will be recognised for their significant academic achievement in STEM fields and they will receive a paid internship at either Fonterra or Riddet Institute.
Applying is simple and straightforward – we ask you to tell us about yourself; why you think you deserve the award; challenges you have overcome to achieve what you have; future goals and aspirations and how the award will assist you to do this; and your involvement in the Pacific community.
We realise Pacific youth make an enormous contribution to their communities, and believe the PMPYA are an excellent opportunity to shine the spotlight on those who deserve recognition for their hard work and input.
