Addressing 54 Otago Daily Times Class Act 2024 award recipients from 28 Otago secondary schools at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Mr Luxon said the world was in "exceptionally good hands" with the generation of young people coming through.
"I have seen young people like these people choosing to work together, choosing to lift each other up, choosing to leave behind the conflicts and the prejudices of the past and choosing to create a brighter future for us all," Mr Luxon told the assembled crowd.
In their 25th year, the annual ODT secondary school awards celebrate students picked by their schools as future leaders in politics, arts, business, education and sports.
Mr Luxon handed out the awards yesterday, sharing a stage with University of Otago vice-chancellor Grant Robertson, Otago Daily Times editor Paul McIntyre and Olympic gold medallist Finn Butcher, of Alexandra.
Mr McIntyre said the awards were the brainchild of former ODT editor Robin Charteris.
"At the first awards, he said this is an event to herald the promise of our province’s very best young people.
"Looking through a list of past winners and what they’ve achieved since is truly inspirational."
Butcher himself was once a Class Act award recipient, collecting the honour 12 years ago, in his final year at Dunstan High School.
He told students about his path to gold at the Paris Olympics this year, including working on mindfulness and connecting with "who I am" and where he came from.
"You’re all here because you have a passion in something and I would say try to let yourself enjoy it.
"Don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you can’t enjoy that process because you only get one shot at life, so you’ve got to make the most of every moment.
"You’re here because you’re passionate about something, so go hard at it, enjoy everything you do and yeah, rip into it."
Otago Girls’ High School year 13 student Lisa Lokman said she would embrace his advice.
After the official ceremony, she shared a joke with Mr Luxon and said getting a selfie with the prime minister was the highlight of her day.
Maniototo Area School year 13 student - and curler - Olivia Russell told Mr Luxon she would like to take him curling; she, too, latched on to the message that Butcher brought to yesterday’s proceeding.
Dunstan High School year 13 student Mika Tait said the event was "cool", the speeches inspiring and it was a privilege to be there.
