Young designers acclaimed

Tauranga Girls' College student Hannah Payne won the senior award and the internship award last night. Photo / George Novak

From an offshore rescue craft to a spring-back road marker and gel handles for crutches, the best of the city's up-and-coming innovative designers were celebrated last night.

Winners of the 2015 Young Innovator Awards were announced at an awards evening at ASB Arena in front of a crowd of about 300 people.

The annual awards are a collaboration between Priority One's Instep programme, Locus Research and Woods, the Creative Agency.

The Supreme Award went to Kyle Brown for his offshore rescue craft. Mr Brown also took out the title in the over-18 section.

Lyn Parlane from Priority One said the awards provided a platform for the community to build an innovative culture.

"For our sub-region to compete within a rapidly changing global economy, employers will increasingly require employees to have the confidence and ability to think creatively and outside the box," she said.

Hannah Payne from Tauranga Girls' College won the Senior Award as well as the Internship Award, securing a two-week work experience placement with Locus Research.

She designed gel cushion handles for crutches to prevent pain and bruising to the hands of those using them.

Next year will see a new award category sponsored by the Waikato Management School. The Innovation In Business Award will offer a scholarship for a postgraduate diploma in management studies, to the value of $8000.

The winners

Supreme Award:

Kyle Brown.

Junior Award:

Fergus Lellman and Lucy Maher (Aquinas College) for Kids Safe.

Highly Commended:

Brook Coombes, Holly Miners and Manawa Te Ahuru-Quinn (Mount Maunganui College) for Tap Cap.

Senior Award, first equal:

Hannah Payne (Tauranga Girls' College) for Charlie's Handgels; and Jaysha Tippins (Tauranga Girls' College) for spring back road marker.

Highly commended:

Briar Patel (Aquinas College) for water play activity.

Over 18s:

Kyle Brown for Offshore Rescue Craft Aotearoa (ORCA).

People's Choice Award:

Briar Patel.

Internship Award:

Hannah Payne for Charlie's Handgels.