His favourite subject was design and last year for his portfolio, he design an independent clothing brand.
"I made a poster and a website and a logo and did an installation for it. And then for my scholarship I did eight pages explaining it all."
During the year, George also completed and got top marks in a first year economics paper through Canterbury University and a first year philosophy paper through Waikato University.
Next week, he will pack up and move to Wellington to study arts and commerce at Victoria University.
His future is wide open and he is looking a career in a government department, "or maybe marketing so I can link in with design".
Last year 7974 students participated in the scholarship exams, with 2344 students achieving a scholarship.
These students were scheduled to receive almost $3.7 million, towards their further study, over the next three years.
New Zealand Qualifications Authority deputy chief executive Richard Thornton said the students' impressive results reflected the hard work they had undertaken during the school year, particularly in the lead-up to examinations.
"These students have performed exceptionally well and achieved impressive results. We wish them the very best for the future."
The 2012 New Zealand Scholarship Top Scholar Awards Ceremony will be held in May and all Premier and Top Subject Scholars will be invited to attend.
The winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Academic Excellence (2012) will be announced at the ceremony.
Education Minister Hekia Parata said the winners should feel proud of their achievements.
She congratulated the students who achieved Premier Awards, Outstanding Scholar Awards and Top Subject Scholarship Awards.
"These winners represent less than 2 per cent of those students who attempted scholarship - they are the best of the best and their achievements are testament to the motivation and skill required to achieve at the very highest level."
************
The monetary awards for 2012 are:
* 10 students achieved Premier Awards: worth $10,000 per year for three years. At least five scholarships with at least three at an outstanding level.
* 54 students achieved Outstanding Scholar Awards: worth $5000 per year for three years. At least six scholarships with at least one at an outstanding level and one at scholarship level.
* 33 students achieved Top Subject Scholar Awards: worth $2000 per year for three years. Top of subject.
* 224 students achieved Scholarship Awards: worth $2000 per year for three years. Three or more scholarships.
The 2012 New Zealand Scholarship Premiere Award winners:
* Harry James Scott Berger, Wellington College: Outstanding Scholarships in Classical Studies, English, Geography, Media Studies and Scholarship in History;
* Thomas John Brennan Leggat, Wellington College: Outstanding Scholarships in Classical Studies, History, Media Studies and Scholarships in Economics, English, Geography, Statistics and Modelling;
* George W Nelson, Lindisfarne College: Outstanding Scholarships in Agriculture and Horticulture, Design, Economics and Scholarships in Accounting and Media Studies;
* Brian Gibson Ng, Hutt Valley High School: Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Mathematics with Calculus, Statistics and Modelling and Scholarships in Accounting, Economics and Physics;
* Nicholas On, Wellington College: Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Mathematics with Calculus, Physical Education, Statistics and Modelling and Scholarships in Biology and Physics;
* Bowen Shi, Dilworth School: Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Mathematics with Calculus and Physics and Scholarships in Accounting and Classical Studies;
* Thomas Simpson, Hamilton Boys' High School: Outstanding Scholarships in Economics, English, History and Scholarships in Geography and Physics;
* Philippa Alice Trevella, Rangi Ruru Girls' School: Outstanding Scholarships in Biology, Chemistry and Statistics and Modelling, and Scholarships in History and English; * Pak Hang Henry Yuen, Auckland Grammar School: Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics with Calculus, Physics and Scholarships in Economics and Science; and
* Feng Zhou, Macleans College: Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Physics and Statistics and Modelling, and Scholarships in Mathematics with Calculus and Science.
