Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Former Opotiki College head boy Toiroa Williams. Photo supplied
Sven Carlsson
A FORMER Opotiki College head boy will be celebrated with filmmaker Taika Waititi in New York this week.
Auckland University of Technology is, with Kea New Zealand, holding an inaugural event in New York City on Wednesday, November 15.
The event celebrates globally influential Kiwis who are making an impact on the world stage and specifically in the United States.
Te Whanau-a-Apanui man Taika Waititi and former Opotiki College head boy Toiroa Williams will both receive awards.
Waititi will receive the first World Class New Zealand Award presented offshore and Williams will receive the AUT Internz Ambassador Award, which is the first of its kind and recognises an Internz recipient who is an excellent ambassador for the university and the country.
Williams recently graduated from Auckland University of Technology with a Master of Arts degree in Maori development and communication.
Prior to this, he completed a Bachelor of Communications degree majoring in television.
His research looks at developing opportunities to support youth to achieve within his home community.
He was awarded a graduate scholarship to complete a three-month internship in the Native American and Indigenous Program at Sundance Institute, founded by Robert Redford.
On completion of the scholarship, he joined Sundance’s programming team and is helping with preparations for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, being held in January 2018.
To create entertaining and thought-provoking films is an area he wishes to pursue in the future.
Williams introduced Te Whare Tapa Wha, a Maori holistic health and wellness philosophy, to the strategic plan for Sundance’s Native American and Indigenous Programme.
AUT chancellor John Maasland said the Internz programme provided once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for students.
“We will present Toiroa Williams with an AUT Internz Ambassador award for the impact he has made through his internship with the Sundance Institute in Park City, Utah,” he said.
“The Sundance Institute was highly impressed by Toiroa’s contributions and enthusiasm for his internship and offered him a full-time position.”
Mr Maasland said the new award would be presented to someone who has taken advantage of the opportunity to share the New Zealand culture with the US and to soak up all the learnings that come from operating in a global market.
“To someone who has truly embodied what it means to be an AUT intern,” he said.
“In the past students have interned with Apple, Dropbox, Facebook and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Working for such well known and influential companies is a huge opportunity for Kiwi graduates.”
Helping Kiwis help Kiwis
Kea is New Zealand’s global network enabling global Kiwis to help Kiwis.
Kea connects a community of over half a million Kiwis with each other and brings them global jobs, events and ways to connect with one another and with home.
New Zealand businesses can access expert assistance, advice, and global insight through Kea Connect.
The World Class New Zealand Awards are New Zealand’s most prestigious individual achievement awards, acknowledging the country’s top international talent.
Established in 2003, the awards recognise world-leading Kiwis whose inspiring achievements are defining New Zealand’s image internationally.
The key point of difference for these awards is the celebration of global success often from Kiwis who have achieved outstanding and, in many cases, world-changing success offshore.