Congratulations to the 2023 University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Shaneel Lal.

The University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Award - Te Mātātahi o te Tau recognises a young person brimming with the potential to build a bright future for Aotearoa, striving across the last year to improve or support their whole community and Tai Ao.

The award will recognise a young person aged 15 to 30 who has great potential to have an impact on the future of Aotearoa, and has been striving during the previous year to improve themselves and their whole community.

Tumu Whakarae | Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey said, “The University of Canterbury is committed to empowering Young New Zealanders across Aotearoa to make a difference especially now, as the world continues to face complex challenges connected to the pandemic, climate change and wellbeing. UC is pleased to celebrate these young leaders and support their success as they make positive impacts in their communities.”

Celebrating 2023 Finalists

Finalists for the 2023 University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Award - Te Mātātahi o te Tau have been announced. Congratulations to Elliot Jones, Georgia Latu, and Shaneel Lal for being recognised as finalists for this prestigious award.

Through good old-fashioned cold-calling, Elliot enlisted a powerful cohort of speakers to share their stories. The result, Unlocking Potential, premiered to a sold-out audience, and its message has since reached over 750,000 New Zealanders.

In addition, Elliot himself raised over $60,000 dollars through sponsorship and donations with all money going directly to the Dyslexia Foundation. The cumulative impacts of his efforts are now considered a breakthrough for dyslexia in New Zealand.

During Covid-19, Latu and her Mum kept busy working on a book, Ngā Mihi, which speaks to the whakapapa of poi. In 2022, Pōtiki Poi secured a supply contract for the Rugby World Cup, taking over the women's final with thousands of twirling poi.

Lal is advocating to protect queer people under hate speech laws and change the blood donation policies to ease the process for gay and bisexual men to donate blood.

Lal has served as an executive board member of Rainbow Youth and Auckland Pride Festival and is a trustee of Adhikaar Aotearoa. In the face of racism, criticism and bigotry, Shaneel has continued to raise their voice for queer and indigenous communities across Aotearoa.

The moment encapsulated so much of what New Zealanders have come to know and love about Tui: her energy, her heart, and her passion for Women’s Rugby.

Shortly after their nail-biting win, Tui was named the 15s breakthrough player of the year at the 2022 World Rugby Awards in Monaco. No stranger to success, Tui won an Olympic Silver medal in 2016 and a Rugby World Cup Sevens title in 2018, going onto win Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

However, her impact goes well beyond international awards – inspiring young players across the world, and fundamentally changing the way New Zealanders think about Women’s Rugby.