Tohu Kahurangi | Blues Awards

Tohu Kahurangi | Blues Awards

 

2025 Tohu Kahurangi | Blues Awards - Saturday 4th October

What are the Tohu Kahurangi | Blues Awards?

Since 1913 the University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) has recognised students who excel in chosen activities outside the classroom.

Traditionally, Blues were awarded for achieving a high level of sporting and academic standards, and as such are named after the traditional sporting competitions between two original ‘Blues’, Oxford and Cambridge.

In 2017, the UCSA in association with Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha University of Canterbury (UC) developed the event into an all-round awards night celebrating a broader scope of student success. The event now consists of the Sport, Community Engagement and Arts & Culture categories.

Receiving an award at the Tohu Kahurangi | Blues Awards is the highest honour we can present students who have excelled in these areas.

With support from Te Waka Pākākano, the University of Canterbury Blues awards have been renamed, Tohu Kahurangi. In addition to being known as ‘blue’ in reo Māori, this name also recognises the value and importance of one of the most precious forms of pounamu – kahurangi. The UCSA commissioned Morgan Mathews-Hale (Kaitiaki Studios) to design a new logo. Crafted in the shape of a wahaika pounamu, it symbolises the rarity and value of the taonga (award) as well as the importance of each award winners journey to success. The form of the manaia represents kaitiakitanga, guardianship, and acknowledges both the whakapapa of award winners and their responsibility to continue creating positive change for themselves and in their communities.

2024 Winners

Arts Blues Winners 2024

Outstanding Achievement in the Arts
Legion Tahana

 

Fine Arts, Architecture and Design
Monica Koster

 

Kapa Haka
Legion Tahana
Lisa Cameron
Qeyloux Hakaria

 

Literature, Writing and Media
Ella Paterson

 

Music
Alannah Hounsome-Vail
Alexandra Hope Watson
Cameron Davis
Declan Ginley
Finn Cruickshank
Jaxon Faithful
Nicolas Davey
William Squire

 

Service to the Arts
Lisa Davies

Community Blues Winners 2024

Outstanding Achievement in Community Engagement
Michael Phillipps

 

Outstanding Contribution to Equity and Diversity
Amir Rojali

Waewae Kai Pakiaka: Outstanding contribution to the Māori community
Manuhaea Mamaru-O'Regan

 

Community Blues
Amir Rojali
Kenneth Brown
Lucia Haswell
Michael Phillipps
Manuhaea Mamaru-O'Regan
Ruowei Chen

Sports Blues Winners 2024

Sports Person of the Year
Will O'Rourke

 

Team of the Year
UC 3x3 Basketball

 

Official of the year
Jayden Rosanowski

 

Coach of the Year
Piet van Hasselt

 

Outstanding Contribution to University Sport
Tony Zhou

 

Sports Blues
Athletics
Lucas Martin

 

Canoe / Kayaking
Leah McCallum

 

Canoe Polo
Jago Alcock

 

Cricket
Emma Irwin
Izzy Sharp
Kate Irwin
Nicola Clayton
Oscar Jackson
Will O’Rourke

 

Croquet
Paul Kaiser

 

Cycling
Ieuan Edwards

 

Equestrian
Gemma Lewis

 

Fencing
Tamsyn Campbell

 

Futsal
Ben Cameron
Mark Zimmerman
Samantha Whyte

 

Hockey
Eliza Roxborough-Judd
Emma Irwin
Josh Irwin
Kate Irwin
Kirsten Nation
Rosie Bedford

 

Kendo
Kai Edwards

 

Other
Olivia Mancer

 

Rowing
Annabelle Scott
Charlie Poulter
Fergus Johnston
George Johnson
Isabella-Hope Murray
Jessica Tavendale
Josh Syme
Oliver Welch
Phoebe Collier
Sam Wilson
Sasha Robinson
Tori Cox
Tyler Stewart

 

Rugby Union
Keelah Bodle
Keighley Simpson

 

Shooting
Dom Henry

 

Surf Lifesaving
Logan Smith

 

Trampoline
Lachie Kirk
Sienna French

 

Triathlon & Duathlon
Laurence Watson
Sarah Hay

 

Ultimate
Ollie Taylor

 

Underwater Hockey
Caelum de Vos
Eli Campbell-Stokes
Greta Clark

 

Waterpolo
Lauren Batchelor

 

Sport Recognition Award
Tony Zhou
Piet Van Hasselt
Carl Huyser
Elliot Anderson-Evans
Nick Draper
Annie Griggs
Ella McArthur
Vengeance
UC 3X3 Men’s Basketball
Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club - Premier Men’s Cricket Team
UC Motorsport
UC Viperettes

Awards Criteria

The full awards criteria can be found here:

Tohu Kahurangi Blues Awards 2025 Criteria

Major Awards 

From all nominations, the panel will select individuals for Major Awards. The categories are: 

  • Sportsperson of the Year 
  • Outstanding contribution to University Sport 
  • Team of the Year 
  • Coach of the Year 
  • Official of the Year 
  • Outstanding achievement in the Arts 
  • Outstanding contribution to University Arts 
  • Outstanding achievement in Community Engagement 
  • Waewae Kai Pakiaka: Outstanding contribution to the Māori Community 
  • Outstanding contribution to Equity and Diversity 
  • Outstanding contribution to Sustainability 

Recognition Awards 

The University of Canterbury Sport Recognition and Art Recognition awards recognise those who have performed exceptionally, however are not eligible for a University Blue as an individual. For example coaches, managers, directors, producers, administrators, executives etc. 

This award allows for recognition across a broader range of categories, while retaining the prestige and level of performance that characterises University Blues.

Past Recipients

Read a list of past Blues Awards Winners here.