2025 Blues Awards winners
The 2025 Blues Awards were announced on 3 October. 116 Blues and 18 major awards were presented to students who excelled across four categories - Arts and Cultural, Business and Innovation, Service and Leadership and Sports.
Major Award Winners
Most Meritorious Performance (Arts and Cultural)
Alanah Charlotte Jones, Anh Thu Anna Nguyen, Eloise Page, Grace Wellik, Ivan Zhang, Jack Doyle, Joshua Bamfield, Matthew Mark Spooner, Robin Park, Timothy Evans, Tom Varney
These students performed with the New Zealand Youth Choir, which won Choir of the World at the 2025 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales and the Grand Prix of Nations in the Folklore category at the European Choir Games in Denmark, showcasing outstanding vocal performance and the unique cultural voice of Aotearoa on the international stage.
Most Meritorious Innovation (Business and Innovation)
Hiraia Haami-Wells
Hiraia conceived and led Kurutao, a flagship Māori innovation programme at the University of Auckland. Her leadership brought kaupapa Māori into entrepreneurship education, empowering Māori students to explore innovation on their own terms and opening new pathways for their success as future leaders and changemakers.
Most Outstanding Contribution (Service and Leadership)
Kartini Fransiska Clarke
As the CEO of the Young Neurodiversity Champions, Kartini has shown unwavering commitment to advocating for greater support for her community. Mentoring 13 other young leaders, lobbying to Members of Parliament as well as assisting government agencies with developing clinical guidelines, Kartini has improved access to ADHD diagnosis for thousands of New Zealanders.
Sportswoman of the Year and Most Meritorious Performance (Sport)
Theresa Setefano Fitzpatrick
Theresa delivered an exceptional season for the Black Ferns Sevens, winning World Series gold medals in Vancouver and Hong Kong. Her consistent international form earned her selection to the New Zealand squad for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, highlighting her continued impact at the highest level of sport.
Sportsman of the Year
George Lee Rush
George won gold in the 49er class at the 2025 European Championships in Greece, representing New Zealand alongside his teammate. The victory is a defining result in his international campaign and a major milestone for New Zealand sailing on the Olympic skiff circuit.
Para-athlete Sportsperson of the Year
Finn Murphy
Finn achieved 1st place in the B Final and ranked 10th overall at the ICF Paracanoe World Cup in Poznan, Poland. Competing internationally just two years after a life-changing injury, Finn’s rapid rise in paracanoe highlights his exceptional drive and talent. He now sets his sights on the World Champs in Milan.
Māori Major Award
Samuel Ruruarau Hiha
Representing New Zealand, Samuel won gold with the Black Sticks Men at the 2025 FIH Nations Cup in Malaysia, beating Pakistan 6–2 in the final. He has since been selected for the 2025 Oceania Cup squad in Darwin, reflecting his growing impact at the highest level of New Zealand hockey.
Pasifika Major Award
Tyler Oroanu
Tyler is the Youth MP for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu and a community leader whose political advocacy and organising have empowered Pacific, rainbow and South Auckland communities. From speeches in Parliament to leading Labour Party communications in South Auckland, Tyler demonstrates ongoing dedication to inclusive policy and elevated youth voices.
Arts and Cultural Blue Winners
| Name | Activity |
|---|---|
| Alanah Charlotte Jones | Music (Choral) |
| Anh Thu Anna Nguyen | Music (Choral) |
| Eloise Marren Page | Music (Choral) |
| Grace Ellen Wellik | Music (Choral) |
| Grace Madison Baylis | Debating |
| Harper Smith | Debating |
| Harry Donald Sinclair Aickin | Debating |
| Ivan Zhang | Music (Choral) |
| Jack Doyle | Music (Choral) |
| Jake Inskeep | Negotiation |
| Joshua Bamfield | Music (Choral) |
| Joshua Samir Phillip Boshra | Negotiation |
| Matthew Mark Spooner | Music (Choral) |
| Megan Rule | Architecture |
| Phoebe Jennings | Mooting |
| Rebecca Zhang | Chinese dulcimer or Yangqin |
| Robin Park | Music (Choral) |
| Rosina May Mereana Manuel | Kapa Haka - Māori Performing Arts |
| Sabreen Islam | Music |
| Te Urikore Waititi-Lake | Kapa Haka - Māori Performing Arts |
| Timothy Evans | Music (Choral) |
| Tom Varney | Music (Choral) |
| Ysabella Stevenson | Mooting |
Business and Innovation Blue Winners
| Name | Activity |
|---|---|
| Aditya Singh | Case competition |
| Amanda Tze Min Lee | Case competition |
| Blake Walker | Case competition |
| Cameron Max Price Cunliffe | Case competition |
| Eric Zhu | Case competition |
| Grace Elizabeth Kerr | Case competition |
| Hiraia Haami-Wells |
Innovation |
| Jaxson Nicholas | Case Competition |
| Kotaro Ishii | Case Competition |
| Nicolas Powell | Case Competition |
| Syon Kapoor | Case Competition |
| Ted Wu | Case Competition |
| Travis Palmer | Case Competition |
Service and Leadership Blue Winners
| Name | Activity |
|---|---|
| Alexshana Sivarajah | Community Leadership |
| Angela Benedicta Horta | Founder of Bimbingan Belajar Lentera Ikat (BILIK) |
| Dylan Chand | Young Leader at the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025 |
| Kartini Fransiska Clarke | CEO of the Young Neurodiversity Champions |
| Layba Zubair | Community Leadership |
| Renee Lloyd-Parangi | Youth MP for Tāmaki Makaurau |
| Tyler Oroanu | Youth MP for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu |
Sports Blue Winners
| Name | Activity |
|---|---|
| Adithya Ashok | Cricket |
| Alexander Revell-Lewis | Athletics |
| Anika Allis Tauwhare | Cricket |
| Arie Rasmussen Magasiva | Rowing |
| Ashtuti Kumar | Cricket |
| Ava Hope Maddison | Cycling |
| Bee Townsend | Cycling |
| Benjamin Daniel McLean | Archery |
| Breana Catley | Hockey |
| Breearne Illing | Cricket |
| Calder Bain | Alpine Skiing |
| Campbell Stanton | Sailing |
| Cate Pedersen | Cricket |
| Catherine Hall | Netball |
| Chantelle May | Fencing |
| Chris Benzie | Badminton |
| Dominique Stephens | Basketball |
| Eesha Vaani Ranchhod | Karate |
| Elena Rebecca Brunt | Competitive Cheerleading |
| Elizabeth Buchanan | Cricket |
| Elizabeth Gault | Water Polo |
| Ella Arnold | Sailing |
| Ella Grace James | Futsal |
| Elsie Lins | Fencing |
| Emilie Gordon | Hockey |
| Finn Murphy | Para canoe |
| Flynn Howarth | Water polo |
| Frazer Tavener | Diving |
| George Lee Rush | Sailing |
| Grace Nweke | Netball |
| Grant Clancy | Canoe Racing |
| Hamish Mclaren | Sailing - 49er |
| Hannah Adye | Athletics - pole vault |
| Hannah Findlay | Hockey |
| Havana Hopman | Rhythmic Gymnastics |
| Helen H Wang | Fencing |
| Isabella Grace Matthews | Archery |
| Jesse Mutton | Alpine Skiing |
| Jett Curteis | Triathlon |
| Jordana Bremner | Futsal |
| Jordyn Blake | Athletics |
| Joshua Hyde | Sailing |
| Joshua Teitelbaum | Gymnastics |
| Josi Andres | Sailing |
| Julia Lena Padrutt | Canoe Racing |
| Ka Yi Nicole Leung | Karate |
| Khanye'lii Munro-Nonoa | Netball |
| Lara Molloy | Orienteering |
| Li Hao Yeoh | Ultimate Frisbee |
| Logan Somerville | Karate |
| Lucy Matehaere | Canoe Sprint |
| Luke Simon | Ice Hockey |
| Marielle Denise C. Venida | Athletics - short distance |
| Markus MacDonald | Ice Hockey |
| Mason Mulcahy | Sailing |
| Matthew Valkenburg | Fencing |
| Mike Antamanov | Futsal |
| Nicholas John Green | Orienteering |
| Nikith Perera | Cricket |
| Patricia Louise Walsh | Athletics |
| Robson Faleafa | Rugby |
| Sam Charles Aston Woods | Alpine Skiing |
| Samrath Singh | Cricket |
| Samuel Ruruarau Hiha | Hockey |
| Seth Irons | Hockey |
| Shaunna Li | Badminton |
| Sofia Higgott | Sailing |
| Stella Bilger | Sailing |
| Theresa Setefano Fitzpatrick | Rugby |
| Vincent Jin-Hao Tao | Badminton |
| Xavi Asemaga Taele | Rugby |
| Yamato Maemura | Powerlifting |
| Zaria Ireland | Ultimate Frisbee |