Kāpiti Youth Shine at the 2025 Work Ready Kāpiti Annual Awards
The 2025 Work Ready Kāpiti Annual Awards were held on Thursday 16 October at Southward Car Museum, bringing together rangatahi, educators, employers, and supporters for an inspiring evening of celebration. With over 175 people attending, it was our biggest awards night yet and a proud moment for the Kāpiti community!
Performances from the Paraparaumu College Jazz Band and Charlee Stokes set the tone for an evening filled with energy and connection. Kāpiti Coast District Council Chief Executive Darren Edwards shared words about the importance of creating strong pathways for youth into local employment and training.
For the first time in Work Ready Kāpiti history, five students achieved perfect scores in the Kāpiti Work Ready Passport programme. This milestone reflects the hard work of our rangatahi and the strong partnerships between schools, employers, and mentors.
The awards recognised individuals and organisations that went above and beyond to support youth development across the region.
2025 Award Winners:
Best Kāpiti Work Ready Passport (Sponsored by Pzazz Building):
Charli McKenzie
Hinemaona Schouwenaars-Maihi
Kiana Bradbury
Logan Hughes
Makayla Ruatapu
#EmployerMeet Star (Sponsored by Fervor): Michelle Codyre
Top WEX Placement (Sponsored by Kāpiti Business Chamber): Brendon Turvey
Engaged and Invested (Sponsored by EcoShifter): Ōtaki College
Most Committed Employer of Youth (Sponsored by Bryan Gundersen): Dark Horse Coffee
Rise to the Challenge (Sponsored by Leith Consulting): Charlie Simpson
Youth of the Year (Sponsored by Coastlands): Ryleigh Prins
Each winner’s story demonstrates the impact of connection, determination, and opportunity. Together, they represent what Work Ready Kāpiti is all about—helping young people develop skills, confidence, and experience that will carry them into the next stage of their journey.
We extend our thanks to our sponsors, funders, and the three colleges — Kāpiti College, Paraparaumu College, and Ōtaki College — for their continued support and partnership.
The 2025 Awards marked an inspiring milestone for the Kāpiti Coast, showing what is possible when our community comes together to support the next generation.
Ngā mihi nui,
The Work Ready Kāpiti Team
