Ezekiel Raui of Te Rarawa has been named the Matariki Young Achiever of the year at the 2016 Matariki Awards.
As Head Boy at Taipa College Raui created a leadership academy and a peer support programme led by young people. An idea he has taken to the Beehive, hoping the programme can be rolled out across the country.
Ezekiel created a leadership academy at school for students to open up with raw, real stories about their problems.
He says "They don't necessarily trust the school counsellor or sometimes their parents. It makes them retreat into themselves to the point where they won't share what they're feeling and the only option is to end their lives."
Raui is being mentored by New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O'Sullivan,
In 2015 he was part of a youth leadership delegation invited to Washington DC where he met President Obama.
He is currently studying business at Massey University.
