Media Release

EMBARGOED until 7pm Wednesday 15th November 2006.

Winners of the 3rd Annual Young Entrepreneurs Awards.

Winners and finalists of the 3rd annual Young Entrepreneurs Awards were hosted by The West Coast Development Trust at an awards ceremony in Greymouth last night.

The awards recognise the enterprising efforts of young people on the Coast, students involved in enterprise projects within their school and those already in business.

Warren Gilbertson, Regional Development Manager for the West Coast Development Trust, presented the awards to the Runanga Rascals, winners of the school award and Andrea Tucker, winner of the Business Award.

The Awards are part of the greater Enterprise Education programme that is offered to all schools regionally by the West Coast Development Trust. Each award, worth $1500, provides schools and individuals the opportunity to resource assistance for the development of their business or project.

Nicky Roberts, the Trusts Education Projects Manager, commended the winners - Runanga Rascals and Andrea Tucker for their proactive outlook, and their exemplary applications. “The Runanga students established the Runanga Rascals Café, a partnership between the school and Clinton Chiffers from the Kotare Domain Trust whom the students address as ‘Chef’” said Ms Roberts.

They captured the attention of their school, community and the nation – showcasing their whitebait fritter skills recently on TVNZ’s Studio2 programme.

At just 18 years of age, Andrea Tucker from Greymouth established and opened her beauty therapy business ‘Xtraction’ in September this year. Andrea qualified as a beauty therapist and now her business is the only one of its kind operating in the Greymouth CBD.

Winning the award means Andrea can access business advice, mentoring and marketing assistance from the Development Trust as part of her prize.

Finalists in the 2006 Awards were South Westland Area School, Karamea Area School and Greymouth High School.

Applications for participation in the 2007 awards will be available in the new school year on the West Coast Development Trust website or directly from the Trust. www.wcdt.org.nz

Ends.

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