Celebrating the Work Ready Kāpiti Annual Awards 2024
The Work Ready Kāpiti Annual Awards, held on Thursday, October 24, marked another incredible year of empowering youth, fostering community partnerships, and celebrating achievements across our programmes. This inspiring evening, hosted at the iconic Southward Car Museum, brought together rangatahi, educators, and employers to reflect on a year of success and connection.
The night was a blend of celebration and inspiration. With Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborrow as a guest speaker and standout performances from local artists Shekayna Anongos and Ofri, the evening perfectly captured the spirit of the Work Ready Kāpiti community.
At the heart of the event were the awards, honouring individuals and organisations who went above and beyond in our #EmployerMeets, Kāpiti Work Ready Passport, and Work EXperience (WEX) initiatives. These programmes are the backbone of our mission to prepare Kāpiti youth for the workforce, and this year’s winners exemplified the values of commitment, resilience, and community spirit.
Here are the remarkable winners of 2024:
Best Kāpiti Work Ready Passport (Sponsored by Pzazz Building): Drew Hedge
#EmployerMeet Star (Sponsored by Fervor): Elijah Mason-Anderson
Top WEX Placement (Sponsored by Bens Buns): Sophia Lucas
Engaged and Invested (Sponsored by EcoShifter): Kāpiti College
Most Committed Employer of Youth (Sponsored by Bryan Gundersen): Allure Skin & Laser
Rise to the Challenge (Sponsored by Leith Consulting): Victor Perkins
Youth of the Year (Sponsored by Coastlands): Jack Wilton
Each winner’s journey reflects the strength and potential of our community. Drew Hedge, for example, credited the Kāpiti Work Ready Passport programme with giving him clarity and confidence in his goals to become an electrician. “It helped me gain a better understanding of the process of interviews” Drew shared.
Sophia Lucas, who earned the Top WEX Placement Award, stood out for her outstanding performance in work experience, showcasing her dedication, communication skills, and work ethic.
Melanie Chaytor, Careers Advisor at Kāpiti College (winners of the Engaged & Invested Award), highlighted the transformative impact of the programme: “Our students have shown growth in confidence and a newfound sense of pride in their accomplishments. The Work Ready Kāpiti programmes have empowered them to see their potential and understand the real-world skills they can bring to the workforce.”
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all award winners, participants, and supporters. Your contributions make our mission possible, and it’s an honour to celebrate your achievements.
The Annual Awards Night was not just a celebration of past successes but also a testament to the strength of our partnerships with educators, local employers, and, most importantly, our rangatahi. Together, we are building a brighter future for the Kāpiti Coast.
Thank you to our sponsors, funders, and supporters for your invaluable contributions, and to everyone who attended the event. We look forward to another year of growth, connection, and success!
Ngā mihi nui,
The Work Ready Kāpiti Team
