The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards celebrate success and reward outstanding achievements by Pacific young people in Aotearoa.
Any Pacific young person creating a positive impact in their chosen field between the age of 17 and 24 is eligible to apply.
Applications for the 2022 Awards closed at 5pm on Sunday, 20 November 2022. Applications for the 2023 Awards will open in late 2023.
Pacific young people are a fast-growing and diverse group in Aotearoa New Zealand, with over 50 percent being younger than 25 years old.
Since the launch of the Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards in 2010, they have played a vital role in recognising and celebrating the outstanding achievement and excellence of Pacific young people aged 17 to 24 and enhancing the journey for those among the top echelon of Pacific young achievers in Aotearoa.
The awards recognise the achievement of young Pacific Aotearoa people in several fields, including being advocates for their language and culture; for leadership and entrepreneurship; and for their efforts in the arts, education and the community.
There were eight PMPYA awards in 2022 across eight categories, supported by exceptional sponsors.
The winners of our Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards were presented with their awards in a special ceremony at Parliament on 12 December 2022. You can watch the ceremony on our MPP Facebook page here: PMPYA 2022 award ceremony on Facebook
This award recognises a young Pacific person who has made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of their local community.
The Community Star Award is sponsored by Auckland Council.
This award recognises a young Pacific person who epitomises the strong positive relationship between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands through their leadership, community service (both New Zealand and home nation) and academic performance.
The International Scholar Award is sponsored by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.
This award recognises a young Pacific person who has demonstrated entrepreneurial qualities through involvement in a business or social enterprise activity.
The Business & Entrepreneurship Award is sponsored by Pacific Business Trust.
This award recognises a young Pacific person who has demonstrated a significant level of achievement in the arts or creative fields, or has used the arts or creative fields to effect positive change in their community.
The recipients of the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards are truly the stars of the Pacific, shining a light on their chosen pathways. As sponsor of the Arts, Culture & Creativity Award, Creative NZ recognize the exciting and creative opportunities that exist in providing support for the rich cultural contribution that talented young Pacific leaders can provide both their communities and Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Creativity is at the heart of successful, strong and prosperous communities.
The Arts, Culture & Creativity Award is sponsored by Creative NZ.
This award recognises a young Pacific person who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities by leading a project in their community, church or school or has acted in a way that has inspired others through their language and culture to make a positive change in their own life or the lives of others.
The Language, Culture & Identity Award is sponsored by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
This award recognises a young Pacific person who has shown significant academic achievement or business activity in the fields of commerce, accounting, marketing and/or international business.
The Commercial & Corporate Award is sponsored by Deloitte.
This award recognises a young Pacific person who is passionate about teaching and has Pacific language skills and cultural competencies.
The Teaching & Education Award is sponsored by the Ministry of Education.
This award is a paid international internship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This award goes to a young Pacific person who has led a project in their community, church, or school, or who has done something that has inspired others to make a positive change in their own lives or the lives of others.
The Leadership & Inspiration Award is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Air New Zealand.