Top scholar honour for locally born student

A Masterton-born student was the recipient of a NZ Top Scholar Award at Government House in Wellington last week.

Te Korou Whangataua Roberts was present with Top Scholar award for Te Reo Rangatira.

The 44 awards are presented to students who scored the highest marks in the country during the 2012 NCEA exams.

Te Korou started his education at the Cole St Maori language pre-school, Te Kohanga Reo o Ngati Hamua.

He then went on to the Maori immersion primary school in Johnstone St, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Wairarapa until 2006.

At age 11, he and his family moved to Auckland. There he attended Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi for seven years, before sitting NCEA level 3 last year.

Te Korou played rugby for local club Pioneer for six years and represented Wairarapa in the under 11s rugby team for three years.

He returns regularly to Masterton, where his grandparents live.