Secondary school pupils and their families from as far afield as Wakatipu filled the University of Otago College of Education auditorium.
The awards are a Kai Tahu initiative to celebrate the academic, social and leadership success of junior and senior high school pupils.
All senior Mana Pounamu recipients were awarded Otago Polytechnic full-fee-payment scholarships.
Tonisha Rollo-Herewini, Anna Edwards, Nicholas Parata, Keegan Henman and Xavier Sadler received Hands-on Otago scholarships.
The University of Otago Scholarship for Excellence in Te Reo Maori was awarded to Lily Collins, and Caitlyn McMillan and GypsyMae Harihona-Harrison received ODT awards for excellence in English.
Mana Pounamu winners for 2016 were: Koreana Wesley-Evans (junior) and Georgia Auckram (senior), Bayfield High School; Sarah Jane Muldoon (senior), Blue Mountain College; Shannon Sealy (junior) and Caitlyn McMillan (senior), Columba College; Tonisha Rollo-Herewini (senior), Cromwell College; Jordan Bailey (junior) and Nikita Parker (senior), Dunstan High School; Germaine Wi (junior) and Jamie Gosney (senior), East Otago High School; Charles Keenan (junior) and Samuel Moir-Grace (senior), John McGlashan College; Nicholas Parata (junior) and Quintin Petre (senior), Kavanagh College; Chanse Peita (junior) and Tutawake Dickel-Smith (senior), King’s High School; Maria Ellen Kohu-Morris (junior) and Reva Mereaira Grills (senior), Logan Park High School; Damian Bentley Carson (junior), Maniototo Area School; Briar Hight (junior) and Anna Edwards (senior), Mount Aspiring College; Keegan Henman (junior) and Isimeli Tuivaga (senior), Otago Boys’ High School; Hannah Matahaere (junior) and Ariana Namana (senior), Otago Girls’ High School; Jordyn Martin (junior) and Lily Collins (senior), Queen’s High School; Sarah Bourke (junior), Roxburgh Area School; Zoe Smith (junior) and Josh Hill (senior), South Otago High School; Cameron Taylor (junior) and Katie Knowles (senior), St Hilda’s Collegiate; Seth Humphries (junior) and GypsyMae Harihona-Harrison (senior), St Kevin’s College; Danya Kerr (junior) and Tayla West (senior), Taieri College; Jed McKay (junior) and Bryce Taylor (senior), Waitaki Boys’ High School; Xavier Sadler (junior) and Lily Bloomfield (senior), Wakatipu High School.
