2024 Blue Award Winners
What a year. From podium finishes and international representation to outstanding creative achievements, our 2024 Blue Award winners pushed boundaries and raised the bar. Congratulations on an incredible year of success, dedication and impact.
Major awards 2024
AUT Female Athlete of the Year
Tara Vaughan
Sprint Kayaking
Tara made her Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics as part of the NZ Woman’s K4 which won GOLD. Her GOLD medal team, including Dame Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin and Olivia Brett, also picked up a 2nd and 4th place at the World Cup Events in 2024. Tara is completing a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.
AUT Male Athlete of the Year & AUT Maori Athlete of the Year
Brodie Miller (Ngāpuhi)
Trampolining
Brodie represented New Zealand at the Coimbra World Cup and Gymfest in Portugal in July 2024. Brodie finished 3rd in the Individual Trampoline and was part of the NZ team that finished 3rd on the Team Trampoline. Brodie is completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
AUT Athlete Scholar of the Year
Helena Sanderson
Sailing
Helena travelled as one of the 10 Kiwi sailors to Melbourne, Australia, to compete in the 2023 Waszp World Championships. In a fleet of 100 boats, Helena placed 2nd in the Women's division and is now 2nd in the world! Helena is studying a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and is currently maintaining an 8.4 GPA.
AUT Creative Individual Performance of the Year
Tyla Tuala
Short Filmmaking / Acting
As part of Team Chicken Nuggets, Tyla and her team were awarded the Grand National Winner of the 48 Hours Competition 2024. Additionally, they won the Grand National Winner 2024, Best Comedy Award, sponsored by Viva La Dirt, and in the Kirikiriroa Regional Awards, Tyla won the best performer award. Tyla is completing a Bachelor of Communication Studies.
AUT Junior Athlete of the Year
Jaden Movold
Athletics; Wheelchair Racing
At the beginning of the year, Jaden was ranked 1st in the world for the U20 T54 5000m. Jaden Movold competed in the 100m and 5000m and placed 20th and 29th in the Open Men T54 division at the 2024 International Open Para Athletics. On top of being an internationally competitive athlete, he is an ambassador, advocate, public speaker and a member of multiple committees, including the Halberg Foundation Youth Council. Jaden is studying a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Sport Blue Awards 2024
Discipline | Winners |
|---|---|
| Archery | Vanessa Jim |
| Artistic Roller Skating | Olivia Skinner |
| Artistic Roller Skating | Joanne Heley |
| Athletics | Natalia Rankin-Chitar |
| Athletics | Nadja Kumerich |
| Athletics - Wheelchair Racing | Jaden Movold |
| Athletics - Wheelchair Racing | Gabrielle Wright |
| Basketball | Riana Rangi |
| Boxing | Kheva Potatau |
| Canoe Sprint | Tara Vaughan |
| Cheerleading | Kaya Flower |
| Cuesports | Alyx Jones |
| Diving | Mikali Dawson |
| Fencing | Ruby Chan (Ho Ting) |
| Figure Skating | Danielle Gebser |
| Football | Ella McMillan |
| Football | Albert Kelly-Heald |
| Football | Ruby Nathan |
| Futsal | Ashley Vincent |
| Handball | Ojhan Aukuso |
| Ice Figure Skating | Mirika Armstrong |
| Ice Hockey | Alexander Regan |
| Jujitsu | Trevor Coetzee |
| Netball | Charlotte Lourey |
| ParaSwimming Official | Ruth McLaren |
| Powerlifting | Abba Samman |
| Powerlifting | Julianne McNeill |
| Rhythmic Gymnastics | Zoe Parnell |
| Sailing | Helena Sanderson |
| Swimming | Kaiya Brown |
| Trampolining | Brodie Miller |
| Triathlon | Charlotte Brown |
| Tumbling | Danielle Ogden |
| Ultimate Frisbee | Kate Charlesworth |
| Volleyball | Anaya Cole |
| Waterpolo | Holly Gardner |
| Wrestling | Cole Hawkins |
| Yachting | Maeve White |
Art, Culture and Design Blue Awards 2024
Discipline | Winners |
|---|---|
| Algorthmic Audio Video | Pasha Mahuto'a Clothier |
| Illustration | Akane Shibata |
| Short Filmmaking | Tyla Tuala |
Gold medallist wins major Blue Award
The 2024 AUT Blue Awards saw Dame Lisa Carrington present her Olympic team-mate and AUT student, Tara Vaughn, with the Female Athlete of the Year Award.
