"My mother was a formidable leader who was passionate about her people, and believed wholly in the transformative and liberating power of education," says Janine, pictured with her mum.
This year’s Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards (Mana Pounamu) held special significance for Janine Kapa, Kaiuruki Matua, Rautaki Māori | Director, Māori Strategy at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
Janine Kapa is the University of Otago's Director of Māori Strategy, as part of her role, she is the strategic lead for the Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi Domain of Pae Tata, the University’s Strategic Plan to 2030.
Mana Pounamu has been celebrating the accomplishments of Māori students in secondary schools across Otago for 25 years this year.
Janine’s late mother, Alva Kapa, was a key instigator of the awards – along with other local Kāi Tahu and Māori educational leaders - however, was unable to realise her dream of staging such an event as she tragically passed away a few weeks’ prior to the first awards ceremony in 2001.
Janine (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) is part of a committee comprising representatives from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Otago Polytechnic and the Ministry of Education that organises the awards annually. She believes her mother would be delighted the event is not only a key event on the academic calendar in the region but will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
“Mum would be stoked and so incredibly proud of these taiohi, most of whom go on to do some wonderful things and contribute in meaningful ways to their whānau, hapū, iwi and wider hapori – not to mention the professions, industries, and careers they go into,” Janine says.
Mana Pounamu came about when Alva saw Class Act recipients profiled and promoted in the Otago Daily Times in the late ’90s and she didn’t see many, if any, taiohi Māori included.
“She felt strongly that they ought to be profiled, as we had many amazing taiohi throughout Otago secondary schools doing amazing things and achieving amazing feats,” Janine says
“Mum believed strongly that if schools weren’t going to acknowledge our young shining stars at that time, we needed to create an awards ceremony that did acknowledge and celebrate them.”
The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards (Mana Pounamu) has been celebrating the amazing accomplishments of Māori students in secondary schools across Otago, 2025 being the 25th year since it was established.
Twenty-five years later, it is estimated that more than one thousand students in total have received a Mana Pounamu award. All tuākana recipients (Years 12 and 13) are offered a university scholarship for their first year of study, so long as they meet university entrance criteria.
“It was named ‘Mana Pounamu’ as the very first awards ceremony was held in the Year of Mana Pounamu. The first ceremony had about a dozen recipients – this year we had 54.
"Mum was a formidable leader who was passionate about her people – Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha especially – and believed wholly in the transformative and liberating power of education.
"She was the first Kāi Tahu member on the University Council in 1994 and Chair of what was then known as the Māori Advisory Board during the late 1980s. She worked for her iwi, both in paid and voluntary capacities. She was an advocate for tamariki and taiohi, as well as those who were often invisible in the mainstream education system, Māori and non-Māori alike. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, auntie, hākui and friend and is still very deeply missed.”
Janine explains the awards are held in high regard in the community.
“I’ve personally reviewed applicants’ CVs and cover letters for roles we’ve advertised through both the University and Otago Polytechnic with ‘Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Award recipient listed in their CVs. Being a recipient is held in such high esteem by students,their whānau and schools alike, taiohi strive for it nowadays.”
Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka’s role in the Mana Pounamu awards event is led out of Te Huka Mātauraka, with the support of Te Tumu and additional support from the Office of Māori Development.
“The University’s role in Mana Pounamu is central to its longevity and to the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards continuing into the future,” Janine says.
“Mana Pounamu has ALWAYS been a collective effort and a co-sponsored event, which must be acknowledged – he toa takitini! We are forever thankful to local papatipu rūnaka, to Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the Otago Polytechnic and the Ministry of Education for continuing this kaupapa forward to benefit our taiohi and their whānau.”
- Kōrero by Brigham Riwai-Couch, Māori Communications Adviser
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