Education
Kayden Scott from Southland Boys' High School has taken out the top prize at this year's Great South Vocational Awards, with Lara Heiss from Blue Mountain College named runner-up.
The awards, run by Great South, recognise secondary students across the region who are excelling in vocational learning — trades, service industries, primary industries and other pathways outside the traditional academic track. This year's event brought together students, families, teachers and employers from schools stretching from Fiordland to Central Southland and beyond.
Scott's win came ahead of a strong field. The runner-up spot went to Heiss, a student at Blue Mountain College in Tapanui.
Six students picked up NZAS Highly Commended Awards, sponsored by New Zealand Aluminium Smelters: Nikita Barclay from Verdon College, Logan Cook from Central Southland College, Courtney Hargest and Jaxon Jones both from James Hargest College, Lexi Reynolds from Fiordland College, and Dylan Hoogeveen from Southland Boys' High School.
The Emerging Talent Awards went to six students showing early promise in their vocational pathways: Libby Aitken Stevens from Verdon College, Charlie Carson from Aurora College, Holly Duston from James Hargest College, Byron McClintock from Māruawai College, Paula Power from Menzies College, and Sam Ussher from Northern Southland College.
Seven students received Bright Futures Awards: Esme Duncan from Fiordland College, Maddison Elliot from Menzies College, Max Galt from Aurora College, Lilly Goodwright from Central Southland College, Joel Kirby from Māruawai College, Maddie Martin from Waiau Area School, and Kaitlyn Brady from St Peters College.
The spread of schools — from Gore to Te Anau, from Winton to Tapanui — reflects how widely the vocational pathway has taken hold across Southland's secondary sector. These are students from rural and regional schools, not just the bigger urban centres, and the awards draw that out deliberately.