Jamie Fenton
Young New Zealander of the Year
2011
Young New Zealander of the Year
Te Mātātahi o te Tau
Jamie Fenton
Jamie Fenton is a trailblazing young New Zealander celebrated for her exceptional intellect, creativity, and dedication to making a difference. At just 17, she was named Young New Zealander of the Year for her remarkable achievements as an inventor, academic, and role model.
Jamie gained national attention by passing her School Certificate science exam at age eight and earning a tertiary qualification by 10. Her passion for science led to the invention of a noise-level meter to protect preschoolers’ hearing, now commercially produced by the National Foundation for the Deaf.
Despite her academic prowess, Jamie embraces a well-rounded approach to life, excelling in the arts, foreign languages, and community service. She views her accolades as a celebration of all young people striving to contribute meaningfully to New Zealand, inspiring others to dream big and pursue their potential.
Recognising young leaders aged 15 to 30 whose ideas, energy, and commitment are transforming Aotearoa. These are the rangatahi challenging the status quo, lifting up others, and laying the groundwork for a more connected, inclusive, and ambitious future.
Nominees of this Award must:
- Be aged between 15-30 years, at the open of nominations in July.
- Have had significant positive impact over the past 12 months.
- Be a role model for young New Zealanders and highlight that change is possible at any age.
- Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
- 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION
Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as the Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau. - 10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from this person’s work, contribution, or influence – and how? - 10 points: LEADERSHIP:
How does this person set a positive example for other young people and showing them the potential for change. - 10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing). What have they done that has gone above and beyond to show leadership, create change, and give back? - 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How has this been measured? - 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
If known, how does the nominee plan to grow and/or adapt their work, contribution, or influence in the future? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?
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