Pinnacle Programme stands alongside passionate Kiwi teens

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016

Pinnacle Programme stands alongside driven and passionate Kiwi teens

Hyundai’s Pinnacle Programme is supporting two lucky young New Zealanders who will work within Hayden Paddon’s rally team this year.

The programme, facilitated jointly by Bernice Mene and Lucy Strack, recognises young Kiwis with passion, drive and talent. It aims to help equip them with the skills and confidence they need in order to succeed.

Founded in 2005 as a way of helping New Zealand’s elite sportspeople hone their abilities and compete at the highest level, it has since been expanded to a three year development and mentoring programme that recognises the passions of those who seek to excel in a wide range of disciplines including art, science, business, sport, politics and leadership.

Pinnacle programme is open to teens between 15 and 18 years old. Applications are by way of a profile form on the programme website, www.pinnacleprogramme.co.nz, and there are 20 places available in the first year, ten in the second and five in the more intensive third year. Successful applicants for the places in the programme have come from as far north as Whangarei and as far south as Te Anau. There are currently 45 teens in the programme.

The three year programme takes young people on a journey that begins with self-discovery and ends with intensive mentoring in their chosen field.

Along the way, successful applicants are able to experience two of New Zealand's prominent leadership programmes, Spirit of Adventure and Outward Bound.

Through Pinnacle, Hyundai is helping more young kiwis achieve their dreams, supporting future generations.
Now, the programme stands alongside a separate initiative that embeds two WINTEC students with Hayden Paddon for the Otago and Whangarei rallies.
Bernice Mene says there are strong synergies between the Pinnacle Programme and the new Paddon initiative with WINTEC. Both are part of Hyundai New Zealand’s commitment to helping New Zealanders perform at the highest level – just as Hayden Paddon does in world rallying.
“The partnership between Hyundai NZ, Pinnacle and Hayden Paddon is about developing youth and broadening opportunities,” she said.

The two students selected to be part of the Hayden Paddon initiative are Matthew Mallett (Rally Otago) and Tony Pavich (Rally Whangarei). Both mechanical engineering students, they will join the rally team and work in the fast-paced, high pressure environment of the rally service park, gaining an insight into where their chosen course of study could take them.

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