Right now, there are hundreds of young Pacific people making an enormous contribution to their local communities, whether in the world of business or charity, through innovative research, or by excelling in the creative arts, sciences, or sports.
From today, each of these young people will have the chance to be recognised for what they’ve achieved by nominating themselves for one of the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards (PMPYA).
Winners will be notified in July before being invited to receive their award at a special ceremony in Parliament in August.
The PMPYA honour and celebrate the very best of our young people, people who are already doing so much to shape the world around them.
Whether they are business people, scientists, or community leaders, the winners will have each made a positive contribution to life in New Zealand.
Any young person between the age of 17 and 24 years, who is a New Zealand resident of Pacific descent, can apply for an award.
Short-listed candidates will be those who over the last 12 months have embodied Pacific values in the work they do to positively impact on their communities and places of work.
Minister for Pacific Peoples says what he loves most about the awards is they give us the chance to recognise Pacific young people who are already leaders, researchers, storytellers, visionaries, innovators, and creative artists.
“Each recipient of a Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Award will be on a different path towards a prosperous future and they will carry with them different stories from their Pacific culture and history,” he says.
“But every winner will share one thing in common: a commitment to doing what they can to shape the world around them in a way that makes sense to them and their families.
“The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards remind us how important it is that we do everything we can to empower all young people and provide the opportunities and support they need to realise their full potential.”
Nominations are only open for a few weeks, so make sure you get in quick.