Top Young Athletes Honoured At Manawatū Secondary School Sports Awards 2025

23 October 2025

The region’s finest young student athletes and leaders were celebrated at the 2025 Steve’s Tyre Service & Auto Care Manawatū Secondary School Sport Champions 2025, held at the Palmy Conference + Function Centre on Thursday 23 October 2025.

Organised and delivered by Sport Manawatū, the annual awards recognise outstanding sporting achievements across Palmerston North, Manawatū, Tararua, and Horowhenua. The event celebrated the region’s top finalists whose dedication, leadership, and talent have inspired their schools and communities.

This year’s judging panel faced a particularly tough task, with an exceptionally high calibre of nominations showcasing the incredible depth of sporting talent and dedication within our secondary schools. After careful consideration, the following individuals and teams were recognised as champions:

• Active Recreation Champion: Tararua College
  (Sponsored by Central Bicycle Studio)
• Student Administrator of the Year: Jakob Abernethy – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  (Sponsored by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University)
• Student Coach of the Year (Female): Elleanor King – St Peter’s College
  (Sponsored by The Verdict Café)
• Student Coach of the Year (Male): Reuben Rose – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  (Sponsored by The Verdict Café)
• Student Official of the Year (Female): Izzy Brown – Awatapu College
  (Sponsored by Subway the Square)
• Student Official of the Year (Male): Josh Irwin – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  (Sponsored by Subway the Square)
• Student Athlete with A Disability of the Year: Jonty Howland – Feilding High School
  (Sponsored by P3 Physiotherapy)
• Student Athlete of the Year (Female): Zahara Slatter – Feilding High School
  (Sponsored by Kitchen Studio)
• Student Athlete of the Year (Male): Jonty Williamson – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  (Sponsored by Kitchen Studio)
• Secondary School Team of the Year: Feilding High School Clay Target Shooting Team
  (Sponsored by Ebony Coffee Roasters)

These awards would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including Steve's Tyre Service + Auto Care as the naming rights sponsor, along with Central Bicycle Studio, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, The Verdict Café, Subway the Square, P3 Physiotherapy, Kitchen Studio, and Ebony Coffee Roasters. Their support enables us to recognise these outstanding young individuals.

Reflecting on the event, Sport Manawatū CEO Kelly Shanks stated, "It is truly inspiring to witness the dedication and talent of these young athletes and leaders. Their achievements not only bring pride to the region but also set a benchmark for future generations. We are immensely grateful to the sponsors, educators, families, and friends whose unwavering support has been instrumental in their success."

As always, it takes a community to raise a champion. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the Principals and Sports Coordinators who have provided mentorship and opportunities, to the whānau whose support has been vital, to the clubs for their support, and to the friends who have cheered these athletes on from the sidelines. Your collective support is an irreplaceable part of their success and the future of sport in our rohe.

Bios of Winners

• Active Recreation Champion: Tararua College
  Over six weeks in late 2024, ten Tararua College students volunteered their time to lead a fun and inclusive athletics programme for 70 children aged three to thirteen. Each week, the young leaders organised and ran activities like sprints, long jump, relays, and shot put, helping children build confidence, coordination, and a love of being active. Their leadership, teamwork, and communication kept the sessions running smoothly and made the programme a highlight for many local families. By giving up their Monday afternoons, these students made a real difference in their community — developing new skills themselves while helping others discover the joy of sport. Their commitment and enthusiasm truly embody what it means to lead through sport.
• Student Administrator of the Year: Jakob Abernethy – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  Jakob has been the driving force behind orienteering at Palmerston North Boys’ High School and across the wider Manawatū schools community. Over the past three years, he has built strong connections with the Red Kiwi Orienteering Club, helping grow participation and creating pathways for both beginners and competitive athletes. Jakob runs weekly training sessions, coordinates events, communicates with schools and families, and even organised a Have-a-Go Day for all Manawatū students. He leads by example — representing New Zealand in both the 2024 NZSS team to Australia and the 2025 NZ Youth Team to Brno, Czechia. Passionate about leaving a legacy, Jakob is now mentoring younger students and helping ensure the programme continues to thrive long after he graduates.
• Student Coach of the Year (Female): Elleanor King – St Peter’s College
  Elleanor is an outstanding example of someone who gives back to her sport with passion and commitment. Alongside competing at a high level, she has coached multiple teams this year — including the St Peter’s College “Soggy Saints”, the Junior Girls team at Regionals, and the Valkyries Women’s B Grade representative team. Known for her tactical mindset, she often organises extra training sessions and takes time to help players improve their skills and game awareness. You’ll often find her surrounded by players at school, analysing games and sharing insights. Elleanor’s enthusiasm, leadership, and drive have already made a lasting impact on the canoe polo community — and her future in the sport looks incredibly bright.
• Student Coach of the Year (Male): Reuben Rose – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  Reuben has shown exceptional dedication to football, balancing his own commitments to the PNBHS 1st XI and the Palmerston North United Men’s 1st team while giving countless hours to coaching younger players. Throughout 2025, he has coached multiple junior teams across PNBHS, Palmerston North United, and Red Sox Junior Football, working with players as young as three through to competitive academy level. His sessions are well-organised, engaging, and focused on both skill development and fostering a genuine love for the game. Reuben’s players see him as a role model — a coach who leads with passion, humility, and enthusiasm. Having also completed his Junior Level 2 coaching qualification this year, Reuben’s commitment and impact on junior football have been nothing short of outstanding.
• Student Official of the Year (Female): Izzy Brown – Awatapu College
  Izzy is a highly respected young Touch referee who gives back to her community through leadership and excellence on and off the field. She officiates local modules and tournaments across Manawatū while also supporting provincial teams and mentoring new referees through the Junior Youth Touch and Kotahitanga Secondary Schools competitions. In late 2024 and early 2025, Izzy represented the region at the Touch New Zealand Masters Nationals and Secondary Schools Nationals, where she was ranked in the top ten youth referees and selected to officiate the Secondary School Girls Plate Final. Her performance earned her a place in the national High Performance Youth Referee Squad, ranking ninth in the country. Izzy’s leadership, professionalism, and passion for developing others continue to make a lasting impact on both her school and the wider Touch community.
• Student Official of the Year (Male): Josh Irwin – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  Josh has made an impressive contribution to Touch officiating at both local and national levels. He has refereed at the Touch New Zealand Open Nationals and continues to officiate across secondary school competitions with professionalism and consistency. Dedicated to developing others, Josh also mentors youth referees, sharing his knowledge and experience to help them grow in the sport. His commitment was recognised when he was named PNBHS Official of the Year in 2024 and selected for the Touch New Zealand Youth High Performance Squad — a reflection of his skill, leadership, and passion for the game.
• Student Athlete with A Disability of the Year: Jonty Howland – Feilding High School
  Jonty has had an outstanding year in the pool, representing Feilding High School, Manawatū, and New Zealand with pride. Competing at both national and international levels, he swam at the Victorian Open Championships and the 2025 NZ Tri Series in Australia as part of the New Zealand Development Team. At the NZ Secondary School Championships, Jonty won eight gold medals across all his events, singlehandedly earning Feilding High School the title of #1 Multi-Class School. His achievements include multiple medals at national championships, two NZ Open bronze medals, and several national records — including the 800m Freestyle and 400m Individual Medley. Selected by Swimming New Zealand for the High Performance Para Collective, Jonty continues to prove himself as one of the country’s most promising para swimmers, combining talent, determination, and an incredible work ethic.
• Student Athlete of the Year (Female): Zahara Slatter – Feilding High School
  Zahara has had an exceptional year in artistic gymnastics, representing New Zealand with distinction and achieving remarkable success both at home and abroad. Competing at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Texas, she won first place on Vault and Bars, second on Beam, and claimed the overall WOGA Level 9 Senior Champion title. Back home, Zahara has achieved the rare trifecta of national titles across Steps 8, 9, and 10, and currently holds the Step 10 National Champion title. A true role model, she also serves as a Sport Manawatū ‘See Her Be Her’ ambassador and member of the Youth Sport Advisory Panel. With her sights set on future World Championships, Zahara continues to inspire through her determination, talent, and leadership.
• Student Athlete of the Year (Male): Jonty Williamson – Palmerston North Boys’ High School
  Jonty has had a phenomenal year on the international downhill mountain biking circuit, achieving world-class results at just 16 years old. Racing as a Factory Rider for the Yeti/Fox Factory Team, he competed across Europe and North America, earning podium finishes including second at the Junior World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, and third at the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series in the USA. Representing New Zealand at the UCI World Championships in Switzerland, Jonty finished fifth in Junior Men — the highest-placed first-year junior in the field — and currently sits fifth overall in the World Cup standings. Domestically, he dominated the U17 and U19 divisions, claiming multiple national and schools titles, including the North Island Schools Downhill Championship. Jonty’s remarkable talent, consistency, and composure against the world’s best make him one of New Zealand’s most exciting young riders.
• Secondary School Team of the Year: Feilding High School Clay Target Shooting Team
  Feilding High School’s Clay Target Shooting duo, Cohen Newton and Lincoln Iwikau, have dominated at both North Island and National Secondary School championships. Competing together as a two-person team, they shot a perfect round to win the Paterson Shield at the North Island Two-Man Skeet Competition, defeating 47 other teams and breaking Christ’s College’s hold on the title. They repeated their success at the New Zealand Two-Man Skeet Championships, once again claiming the Paterson Shield and the national title from Tauraroa Area School. In individual competition, Lincoln claimed the North Island High Gun title after a shoot-off with teammate Cohen, and both were later selected for the North Island representative team. Their precision, composure, and teamwork have made them a standout pairing on the national clay target stage.

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