AUT Blue Awards: celebrating students who excel

AUT Sports Scholar of the Year - Jessica Milicich

Jessica competed at the FINA World Championships with the New Zealand Senior Women’s Waterpolo team, taking place in Budapest, Hungary. The team secured 10th place overall and she celebrated her 50th International Test Cap. Nationally, Jessica played for the Marist Magic at New Zealand Waterpolo Championships where they took home gold. Jessica is completing her Master of Business.

AUT Male Athlete of the Year – Kacey Ngataki

Studying physiotherapy, Kacey competed at the IVF Sprint Championships held in the United Kingdom, winning first place in the Open Men’s V1 500m and first place in the Elite Men V12 500m.

AUT Female Athlete of the Year – Izzy Gaze

Izzy is completing a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation. Izzy played on the New Zealand White Ferns Commonwealth Games Squad. The team won bronze at the Commonwealth Games.

AUT Junior Athlete of the Year – Sylvia Brunt

Playing on the New Zealand Women’s Rugby Team, the Black Ferns, Sylvia competed at the Pacific Four Nations Competition where they won gold against the USA. She is studying a Bachelor of Health Science.

AUT Māori Athlete of the Year – Kacey Ngataki

Kacey competed at the IVF Sprint Championships held in the United Kingdom, winning first place in the Open Men’s V1 500m and first place in the Elite Men V12 500m.

AUT Junior Sportsperson of the Year – Izzy Gaze

Izzy was the vice-captain for the Women’s Under 19 Cricket World Cup where the team managed a semi-final placing. Izzy plays internationally for the White Ferns and domestically for the Auckland Hearts.

AUT Māori Athlete of the Year – Briana Irving

Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata

Briana Irving was part of the New Zealand surf lifesaving championships team who competed at world championships in Italy. Briana placed 2nd in the world competing in the open beach sprint. She also placed 4th in the open beach relay in her debut as an open New Zealand surf lifesaving member. Brianna has also been selected to attend the international challenge in America where she will be representing New Zealand for the 4th time.

AUT Female Athlete of the Year and AUT Sports Scholar – Sylvia Brunt

Sylvia topped off an amazing end to 2022 as part of the Black Ferns that beat England in the World Cup final. She was then rewarded for her hard work in April 2023 when she was signed on to a full-time Black Ferns contract. More recently, Sylvia has been playing for the Black Ferns in the Lauren O’Reiley Cup vs Australia.

AUT Male Athlete of the Year – Jaden Movold

Jaden has had a successful athletics season this year, winning NZ national titles in the 800m and 1500m senior men's competition and winning the 400m under 20 men's competition.

Internationally, he won bronze in the open men’s 5000m at the Australia National Championships. There he also won 5 Under 20 gold medals at the ACT Championship in Canberra. And Jaden made his debut as the first New Zealand wheelchair racer to compete at a World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland.

Currently ranked 1st in the world for the U20 Men’s 5000m, he competes in the most competitive classification in the world of Para Athletics.

Creative Group of the Year – Tate Miller and Jeremy Dreyer for Identity Dance Company

Placing 2nd in the world for hip hop, both Jeremy and Tate performed with the dance company ID CO in the megacrew - YUNG ID. Hip Hop Worlds was held in Arizona, USA.

Creative Individual Performance of the Year – Tia Barrett

Tia has excelled in her film and photography creative practice. 'He Pounamu Ko Āu' found its place in esteemed film festivals such as the Māoriland Film Festival in Ōtaki, the New Zealand International Film Festival, and the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival in Ottawa, Canada. Furthermore, the work was exhibited at CoCA – the Centre of Contemporary Arts Toi Moroki in Christchurch. Tia's accomplishments extend beyond film. As she is a finalist and received highly commended for her photo of her grandmother called 'A Time Capsule of Aroha' in the 2023 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards; an event hosted by the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington.