Cultural Awards 2026

In addition to the presentation of awards, the evening also featured some superb performances by:

• Te Whetū Tīrama - Trinity’s kapa haka group

• Violinist Made Newson

• Supra - Trinity’s vocal quartet (Joseph Kelly, Riley Culling, Camila Barns & Laura McCartney)

• Senior hip hop duo Dynasty (Hermione Sparks & Sophie Waterworth) and junior hip hop duo INSYNC (Valery Herrero & Lulu Mahoney)

• The 2026 winner of Trinity’s Got Talent - The Late News (Joseph Kelly, Ché McGivern, Akein Wickramagedara & Harry Lodge)

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Congratulations to all the students who received an award in recognition of their success and commitment to the cultural life of our school. We are indeed very fortunate to have such talented students here at Trinity who are willing to share their passion for performance with all of us.

The winners of the cups and trophies at the Cultural Awards were:

Drama Trophy (excellence in performance and dramatic skill): Mitchell Atkinson & Riley Culling

Director’s Cup (most promising director): Esther Koudayah

Shakespeare Award (commitment to and achievement in Shakespeare performance): Joseph Kelly

Theatre Sports Cup (courage and creativity in impromptu situations): Ziva Curtis

Tried and True Award (dedication to drama & dance): Matamatanonofo Taua

Dancer’s Cup (commitment and enthusiasm and, through these qualities, striving for excellence): Hermione Sparks & Sophie Waterworth

Rising Star Award (passion, panache, and potential in school productions): Alex O’Brien & Eloise Ryan

Performance Technology Award (industry, collaboration, and expertise): Jacob McInnes

The Paris Cup (best senior debater): Ché McGivern

The Farry Cup (excellence in public speaking): Camila Barns

A Tempo Trophy (the student who never misses a beat): Daniel Ryan

Stephen Chambers Cup (top vocalist in the College): Joseph Kelly

Top Composer Cup (top composer in the College): Tim Stevens

John McKewen Trophy (top instrumentalist in the College): Joseph Kelly

Tangata Moana Leadership Award (overall commitment and dedication to the Tangata Moana group): Shalia Kelekolio & Matamatanonofo Taua

Kaea Wahine (Kapa Haka female leader): Riley Matthews

Kaea Tāne (Kapa Haka male leader): Oliver Waide

Cultural Committee Cup (most entertaining performance of the year): Leo Branford

Year 7 & 8 Cultural Cup (student in Year 7 or 8 who has contributed the most to the cultural life of the College): Emilia Batson

Junior Cultural Cup (student in Year 9 or 10 who has contributed the most to the cultural life of the College): Molly Peters & Freya Sutherland

Senior Cultural Cup (senior student who has contributed the most to the cultural life of the College): Camila Barns

Harger Trophy (commitment to the arts): Joseph Kelly

Junior students who were awarded a Cultural Outstanding Achievement Award this year were:

Valery Herrero, Lulu Mahoney, Thomas Matthews-Nielsen, Bella McLennan, Alex O’Brien, Eloise Ryan

Senior students who were awarded a Cultural Blue this year were:

Camila Barns, Leo Branford, Paige Clark, Theodora Clarke-Wallace, Riley Culling, Ziva Curtis, Molly-Jane Gallagher, Sophie Hannagan, Isla Kamo, Shalia Kelekolio, Joseph Kelly, Esther Koudayah, Susana Mafi, Riley Matthews, Laura McCartney, Mana McCombe, Ché McGivern, Jacob McInnes, Esther Moata’ane, Lola Murphy, Made Newson, Hermione Sparks, Matamatanonofo Taua, Anamalia Tili, Oliver Waide, Sophie Waterworth, Akein Wickramagedara

Senior students who were awarded a Cultural Manaakitaka (Service) Award this year were:

Riley Culling, Saira Eldho, Sophie Hoexum, Isla Kamo, Joseph Kelly, Harry Lodge, Elani Mafi, Ché McGivern, Hollie Moloney, Henry Murphy, Leah Olsen, Rishi Shantapriyan, Hermione Sparks, Anamalia Tili, Lola van de Klundert, Sophie Waterworth, Akein Wickramagedara

See the attachment below for the list of students who received Excellence Awards and Merit Awards at the Cultural Awards.