Meet the recipients of Prime Minister’s Oranga Tamariki Awards

On 24 June 2025, 14 rangatahi between the ages of 17 and 19 gathered in Wellington to receive their Prime Minister’s Oranga Tamariki awards. 

They all had one thing in common: they were care-experienced. 

But beyond that, their lives, passions, achievements and dreams were completely unique. 

Meet 2 of the 14 recipients of this year’s awards.

Te Marama Hemana-Wahanui was 2 years old when she went into care, and she started performing soon after that.

“I’ve been performing since I was 3. I started with ballet, jazz. And it kind of evolved as I watched people around me dance,” she says.

Dancing isn’t just a hobby for Te Marama.

“I feel like I am meant to be where I am meant to be; I feel a sense of belonging.”

Te Marama says her caregiver of the past three years, Kiri Wray, has also given her a sense of belonging.

“Because I have been able to stay stable and the support around me has been beautiful.”

Dreams for herself and others

That support was evident at last week’s ceremony, which Kiri attended with Te Marama. 

“It’s rewarding, definitely humbling. I kind of, like, deserve this but I don’t just do this for myself – it’s for those to come, and those who have passed,” Te Marama says.

She hopes to use some of the award money to turn her living space into a hairdressing salon.

Though, she describes hairdressing as her “side-hustle”.

Dancing is her dream, and Te Marama plans to open a dance academy for young people, so they can find their sense of belonging through movement.

Daniel Nicholas was only a few months old when he went into care. Now, at the age of 18, he is planning to stay in the system – as a social worker.

“I reckon the only way for the system to understand the children they’re looking after is for the children they’re looking after to step in and tell them.”

Daniel’s journey has not been an easy one. He left mainstream school when he was 15 and showed incredible resilience to achieve his NCEA qualifications.

Like many of the recipients, he has a ‘stand-out’ person who helped him to realise his potential. 

Daniel’s person was a relief teacher at his school, who became his caregiver.

And while he didn’t stay with her for very long, he believes it was a turning point in his life.

“It’s because.... they chose me. They saw me, they took me in because of me. That’s what the standout part of it is.”

Dream to help others

As a young adult, Daniel is striving for independence. He plans to buy a car with his award money so he can work part-time, and study social work.

“It opens up job opportunities and keeps me funded while I pursue this dream.”

As soon as he is qualified, he wants to work for VOYCE, a charity organisation that advocates for children with care experience.

And one day he hopes to work for Oranga Tamariki.