Taradale High School were the big winners at the 2023 Hawke’s Bay Secondary School Sports Awards, held at the Cheval Room, Hawke’s Bay Racecourse on Monday evening.

Held in Hastings for the first time in the history of the awards, winners were announced in ten categories celebrating sport across Secondary School sport in Hawke’s Bay.

Taradale High School student and promising local golfer Zackary Swanwick claimed both the EIT Te Pūkenga Male Sportsperson of the Year and overall Hawke’s Bay Secondary School Sportsperson of the Year following an outstanding 12 months on the golf course.

Following claiming the New Zealand Under 19 Golf title in September, Zack became only the 2^nd golfer in the events history to win the event in back to back years following Daniel Hiller in 2016. He was also a member of the Taradale High School Golf team who won the NZ Secondary Schools title for the first time ever in August. This team also claimed the Kennedy Park Resort Napier Team of the Year.

Swanwick acknowledged his parents, coaches, teachers, friends and teammates who have all contributed to his success over the year. Following the school year, Swanwick will further his golf and attend the University of Florida.

A new award was announced in 2023 which recognised student leadership. The Tū Manawa Sports Council Project is an award selected from student sports council projects that are funded by the Sport Hawke’s Bay managed Tū Manawa fund. Lachie Harkness and Tanner Windle from Taradale High School organised an inter-school Ki o Rahi event in which teams from 10 kura took part in. The students took great leadership in organising the venue, food, drinks, referees, and trainings.  This positively impacted the school by getting many students who were not regular participants come forward to be involved with sport in some capacity, including those who stepped up and provided a referring coaching session so they could ref the games on the day. 

Olivia McKinnon, Sport Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Director said, “once again, Sport Hawke’s Bay is proud to bring together our Secondary School sportspeople and teams to recognise their achievements over the past year”.

“38 finalists were celebrated tonight but many more were nominated. Secondary School sport in Hawke’s Bay is as strong as it ever has been, even after a disrupted 12 months following Cyclone Gabrielle. It is great to come together tonight and celebrate success”.

Teilah Ferguson, Hawke’s Bay Tui was the guest speaker at the function. She encouraged students to continue with their sports alongside future study or work and the balance of both helps with wellbeing, health and being able to switch off. The ex-Napier Girls’ High School student spoke of what sport can do for many young people including taking you overseas to compete and in Teilah’s case getting to play alongside her mum, former Black Fern, Julie Ferguson.

Other winners on the evening included Alex Cave from Woodford House for her work with young Greendale Tennis Club Juniors on a Saturday morning during the Summer terms as well as coaching juniors at holiday programmes and fellow students at Woodford House. Alex Anderson from Napier Boys’ High School was named Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sports Trust Official of the Year for his work officiating Futsal. Luis Douglas from Havelock North High School was named the Paladin Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, a year in which he placed 1^st in multiple athletics events ranging from 800m through to cross country and road race championships.

The Mediaworks Service to Sport presentations were made to 7 recipients, all of whom have contributed over 10 years to sport within their Secondary School. Katie Geary (Hastings Girls’ High School), Emma Jensen (Hastings Girls’ High School), Jo Lucas (Flaxmere College), Philipp Otto (Napier Girls’ High School), Virginia Redwood (Karamu High School), Va’asili Uili-Va’asili (Havelock North High School) and Sue Wood (Woodford House) received plaques to recognise their commitment to sport in their school. Katie Geary spoke on behalf of the group and mentioned that even after 10 years involved in sport, the smiles and rewards from being involved far outweigh any negatives.

Ryan Hambleton, Sport Hawke’s Bay General Manager said “tonight we were able to bring over 200 people together to celebrate achievements by so many from across Secondary Schools in Hawke’s Bay. The fact we are able to hold the awards given the adversity these young people have had to go through over the past 12 months and then to go on and achieve at the highest level shows the level of excellence we have across our region”.

“These awards are one of the highlights for us at Sport Hawke’s Bay as it celebrates rangatahi but it also is an opportunity to recognise all of those who help make Secondary School sport happen. We thank sponsors, Secondary Schools, our regional sports organisations, volunteers and officials and most importantly whānau for making 2023 a special year for sport”.

All Secondary Schools are invited to nominate their students for the awards with nominations needing to be submitted by the school and approved by Senior Management. The independent judging panel made up by experts in the sports sector use information provided, a criteria and an understanding of achievements to make independent recommendations on winners. Sport Hawke’s Bay manages the awards on behalf of the Hawke’s Bay Secondary Schools.

For a full list of winners see below. For photos from the evening visit the Youth Sport Hawke’s Bay Facebook page or the Sport Hawke’s Bay website.

2023 Secondary School Sports Awards winners – full list

Tū Manawa Student Council Project of the Year

Taradale High School | Ki o rahi Tournament

NZ Couriers Student Contribution to Sport

Alex Cave | Tennis | Woodford House

Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sports Trust Official of the Year

Alex Anderson | Football & Futsal |Napier Boys’ High School

Mediaworks Service to Sport

Katie Geary - Netball, Rugby, Cricket, Softball, Touch, Football (Hastings Girls’ High School)

Emma Jensen - Rugby (Hastings Girls’ High School)

Jo Lucus – Volleyball, Ki O Rahi, Lawn Bowls, Rugby (Flaxmere College)

Philipp Otto - Sailing (Napier Girls’ High School)

Virginia Redwood – Netball, Volleyball, Badminton, Tennis & Basketball (Karamu High School)

Va’asili Uili-Va’asili- Volleyball (Havelock North High School)

Sue Wood – Netball, Hockey (Woodford House)

Kennedy Park Resort Napier Team of the Year

Taradale High School Golf Team

Sporty.co.nz Coach of the Year

Bruce Smith | Athletics | Napier Boys’ High School

Paladin Disabled Sportsperson of the Year

Luis Douglas | Athletics | Havelock North High School

Stirling Sports Female Sportsperson of the Year

Graecyn Parahi | Basketball | Napier Girls’ High School

EIT Te Pūkenga Male Sportsperson of the Year

Zackary Swanwick | Golf | Taradale High School

Sport Hawke’s Bay Supreme Awards

Zackary Swanwick | Golf | Taradale High School 

Article added: Tuesday 17 October 2023