Talented Kāpiti College film maker Te Awarangi Puna scooped the major award at the recent Pride Awards which recognise and celebrate the successes, achievements and contributions of young people in the Wellington region.
Kāpiti has always featured prominently at the awards and did so again this year. Heading the list of Kāpiti achievers was 16 year old Te Awarangi (Awa) Puna who won the Creative Achievement and Innovation Award and then went on to win the supreme award as the Most Inspiring Young Person of the Year.
This gifted young film maker is seen as a huge talent with a bright future. As well as being a film director she is a dancer, singer, actor, and artist. As a Kāpiti College student so was Peter Jackson, Awa is a leader and role model and I wish her all the best in her chosen field.
Another young Kāpiti resident, Leo Stairmand, won the Courage in Adversity award. Leo and friends attended a Kāpiti Council meeting earlier this year to register their disapproval of the Council facilitating the sale of legal highs. In the citation it was said Leo showed leadership and courage in standing up for what is right and what he believed in.
In addition to the Award winners Kāpiti also provided the event with entertainment from former award winners Salem Foxx with a ballet performance and 13 year old singer/songwriter Peyton Morete.
Salem won the Creative Achievement award last year and has recently been announced as a finalist for the Attitude Awards which are held in Auckland in December. He is one of three finalists for the Artistic Achievement Award. Salem will be attending the Boy’s Ballet Summer School at the end of the year in Sydney.
Peyton Morete from Peka Peka, sang two songs she wrote herself and is a young singer/songwriter with a huge future. She has just released a new EP.
