The Impact Awards – 2023 finalists!
Five different award categories to celebrate & support young people making a difference.
Run by the Kiwi charity Inspiring Stories, The Impact Awards celebrate the incredible courage and leadership of young people doing great things for our communities and country. This year there are five different award categories. Scroll on down to meet the semi-finalists for 2023.
The Local Awards
Making a difference in the local community
Semi-finalists >>
The Climate Award
Taking action on climate change
Semi-finalists >>
The Inclusion Award
Working to create more inclusive communities
Semi-finalists >>
The Wellbeing Award
Working to improve health & wellbeing
Semi-finalists >>
The Enterprise Award
Creating impact through business
Semi-finalists >>
Key dates for 2023.
8th June – Application open
July 23rd – Applications close (11:59pm on Sunday)
August 17th – Semi-finalists Announced
October 11th – Finalists Announced
November 11th – The Awards Ceremony & Weekend Experience in Wellington. The Awards Ceremony is on the evening of Saturday 11th November. We’re also working to curate an amazing weekend experience of connection and capability building.
We need your support!
Help us celebrate and support the incredible courage and leadership of these young New Zealanders. To learn more about sponsoring an award or purchasing a table, please get in touch – Emma@inspiringstories.org.nz.
1. Spread the word!
2. Purchase a table or tickets to the Awards Ceremony, and/or support prizes & scholarship efforts.
3. Sponsor an Award Category or help with prizes
4. Make a donation – either one-off or regular
The Local Award – finalists
The Local Awards
Celebrating young people making a difference in their local community.
WINNER
Luke Gray, building resilience through the Preventative Education and Training for Resilient Adolescents (PETRA) Programme.
FINALIST
Keegan Jones, increasing access to justice through free legal clinics and support in Te Tai Tokerau.
FINALIST
Maddison Booth, supporting whanau to donate shoes for rangatahi and tamariki in Murihiku through The Shoe Booth.
FINALIST
Hogan Hynes, restoring the treasure of te ao Māori and identity as a taonga for rangatahi through the project He Taonga Tāmata.
FINALIST
Emily Hacket Pain, collecting and donating stationery to low decile schools in Auckland through the project Paper Pens Pencils.
Semi-finalists
SEMI-FINALIST
Aarthi Candadai, Fostering cultural pride amongst ethnic youth through dynamic performing arts with The Youth Show.
SEMI-FINALIST
Cheyenne Wilson, supporting cyclone affected farmers and communities in Tairawhiti.
SEMI-FINALIST
Matthew Donald, helping to mobilise 80+ volunteers to provide urgent support after the devastating floods in Nelson Whakatū.
SEMI-FINALIST
Izza Atif, connecting multicultural youth through events to foster unity and celebrate the mosaic of cultures that enrich the community.
SEMI-FINALIST
Karen Hepi, created Project 404 to provide a safe space for whānaungatanga, whakapapa and wānanga through community & rangatahi driven projects.
Category Sponsor: The Local Impact Category is proudly sponsored by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The Climate Award – finalists
The Climate Award
Celebrating young people taking action for climate and community resilience.
WINNER
Amy Klitscher is the Founder of The Sustainable Food Co., a catering business with a plant-forward and zero-waste approach.
FINALIST
Kaya Freeman, enabling community-wide climate and conservation outcomes and empowering rangatahi to act as a voice for nature.
FINALIST
Nonstop Solutions
is an initiative helping businesses and events to become waste-free, as well as advocating for systems change.
FINALIST
Emma Fryer is the Founder of EmGuard, a biodegradable plant guard – saving the planet, one tree at a time.
FINALIST
Nelson Harper is the Founder of Precycle, a waste minimisation and green tech company based in Palmerston North.
Semi-finalists
SEMI-FINALIST
Climate Club Aotearoa, aims to make climate action accessible so you feel confident taking action.
SEMI-FINALIST
Caitlin Attenburrow founded the Refill Revolution, a movement and toolkit for producers to shift consumer, retailer and business behaviour.
SEMI-FINALIST
Nate Wilbourne is an environmentalist and speaker from Te Tauihu, passionate about protecting & restoring te taiao.
SEMI-FINALIST
Mrinali Kumar co-founded EatKinda – the world’s first plant-based ice cream made out of… cauliflower!
SEMI-FINALIST
Sian Crowley, Founder & Host of The Seed Pod. (podcast). Creating inter-generational change in our relationship with nature
Category Sponsor: TBC… keen to help? Get in touch!
The Wellbeing Award – finalists
The Wellbeing Award
Celebrating young people working to improve the health and wellbeing of others.
WINNER
Neighbourhood NZ promotes wellbeing by creating spaces for community connection, empowerment and education.
FINALIST
Layba Zubair
is campaigning for Consent Law Reform to reflect the need for free and voluntary agreement.
FINALIST
Lauren Hartridge founded the gym Radiqal Movement – a safe space with tailored exercise opportunities for LGBTQIA+ people.
FINALIST
Lads Without Labels is a student-led men’s mental health charity dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing care.
FINALIST
Tayla Nasmith partners with over 110 different organizations to help families with customized wrap around support. Nurturing Families
Semi-finalists
SEMI-FINALIST
Luke Gray is building resilience through the Preventative Education and Training for Resilient Adolescents (PETRA) Programme.
SEMI-FINALIST
Jennifer Shields is the director of Qtopia, an LGBTQIA+ social service, and an advocate for gender-affirming healthcare.
SEMI-FINALIST
Create Happy is an award-winning magazine and media outlet run by rangatahi for rangatahi.
SEMI-FINALIST
The Social Change Collective empowers young people to take action on social & environmental challenges.
SEMI-FINALIST
Evolve is a Youth Health Service that supports rangatahi through accessible & engaging health, wellbeing & support services.
Category Sponsor: TBC… keen to help? Get in touch!
The Inclusion Award – finalists.
The Inclusion Award
Celebrating young people working to create more inclusive communities.
WINNER
Elina Ashimbayeva, is the Founder of Storyo, changing the narrative through sharing stories of Aotearoa's women & gender-diverse folks.
FINALIST
Make it 16, a youth-led, non-partisan campaign aiming to uplift and strengthen youth voices in Aotearoa by lowering the voting age to 16.
FINALIST
Jennifer Shields is the director of Qtopia, an LGBTQIA+ social service, and an advocate for gender-affirming healthcare.
FINALIST
The National Disabled Students Association represents disabled tertiary students in Aotearoa, advocating for a barrier free education system.
FINALIST
Justice for Rabi, using art and creativity to share untold stories of Banaban communities on the frontlines of climate change.
Semi-finalists
SEMI-FINALIST
Sarina Todd, Co-founder of Women in STEM NZ, increasing the accessibility of STEM education through advocacy and leadership.
SEMI-FINALIST
Aleisha Amohia
President of the Wellington Branch of the NZ National Council of Women, passionate about equity.
SEMI-FINALIST
Elliot Jones is working to ‘lift the cloak of shame’ by transforming the way everyday New Zealanders see and understand dyslexia.
SEMI-FINALIST
Lauren Hartridge founded the gym Radiqal Movement – a safe space with tailored exercise opportunities for LGBTQIA+ people.
SEMI-FINALIST
Young Neurodiversity Champions – led by 15 neurodiverse young people campaigning for greater support for neurodiverse ākonga in the education system.
Category Sponsor: TBC… keen to help? Get in touch!
The Enterprise Award – finalists
The Enterprise Award
Celebrating young people working to make a difference through business and entrepreneurship.
WINNER
Georgia Latu, co-founder & CEO of Pōtiki Poi – the world’s biggest manufacturer of poi – supplying thousands across the motu.
FINALIST
Nu'uali'i Eteroa Lafaele, Co-founder of Fibre Fale, working towards digital equity and creating pathways into tech for Pacific People.
FINALIST
Te Piha Niha, Founder of NGEN Room, empowering Māori and Pacific youth through tech programmes and bridging industry gaps.
FINALIST
Mrinali Kumar co-founded EatKinda – the world’s first plant-based ice cream made out of… cauliflower!
FINALIST
Remojo Tech, directors Hadi and Owyn Founders of Recycle-A-Device, focussed on addressing the digital divide in Aotearoa.
Semi-finalists
SEMI-FINALIST
Ryan Chow, Founder of the NZ Youth Film Festival working to find, celebrate, and empower the next generation of movie stars and creators.
SEMI-FINALIST
Pūkare Cards – a communication tool with cards to normalise talking about feelings and mental health from a young age.
SEMI-FINALIST
Emma Fryer is the Founder of EmGuard, a biodegradable plant guard – saving the planet, one tree at a time.
SEMI-FINALIST
The Bowling Club Eatery, creating space for all people in our community by sharing $4 (or free) meals with thousands each week.
SEMI-FINALIST
Amy Klitscher is the Founder of The Sustainable Food Co., a catering business with a plant-forward and zero-waste approach.
Category Sponsor: TBC… keen to help? Get in touch!
The Awards Ceremony & Experience.
In 2023 The Awards Ceremony will run in Wellington on Saturday 11th November. In addition to the Awards Ceremony itself, we’ll also be working to curate an amazing weekend experience for all young people involved.
Support the Awards – we need your help!
As a small charity, our work at Inspiring Stories is only possible thanks to the generosity and support of our community. Whether you’re an individual or family, a community organisation, a business or government agency – we need your support. Here’s a few easy ways you can help.
1. Spread the word
2. Sponsor an Award Category
3. Purchase tickets or a table to the Awards Ceremony
4. Assist with scholarship efforts to remove cost barriers for young people to be there
5. Make a donation – either one-off or regular
Keen to chat more about opportunities to get involved and support?
Get in touch – Emma@inspiringstories.org.nz / 021 047 6259
Emma Davison
Business Development Manager
e Emma@inspiringstories.org.nz
c 021 047 6259
LinkedIn >
JJ Stuart-Manning
Business Development Manager
e JJ@inspiringstories.org.nz
c 021 222 7810
LinkedIn >
Devon Murphy-Davids
Chief Executive Officer
e Devon@inspiringstories.org.nz
c 027 2577 890
LinkedIn >