The annual Blues and Golds awards were held last Thursday to celebrate cultural and sporting achievements of Otago tauira. The yearly ceremony is a collaboration between the University and OUSA, proving just how well some students are able to lock in. In total, 56 individuals or clubs got an award. Ka pai to all involved.
Beyond the Blues and Golds, celebrating sporting and cultural achievements respectively, were Silver Service and a few other big-ticket awards. All together, 10 awards, 19 Silver Service, 27 Blues and two Golds were given out last week. The awards also heavily emphasise community service – Payton Mitchell and Charlotte Smith were each awarded Outstanding Member of the University of Otago and Dunedin communities for their services.
Emilia Finer is the University of Otago Sportsperson of the Year. A swimmer, Emilia competes in multiple disciplines, but her speciality is ice swimming. Braving water temperatures of sub 5ºC, even colder than a mid-winter St Clair dip, Emilia recently competed in the Ice Swimming World Championships in Molveno, Italy. In four different events, Emilia was the fastest in the women’s 18-24 age group, and even managed to set an age group record in the 500m freestyle event.
Ian Audas was highly commended for Sportsperson of the Year for his excellence at ice hockey. Hannah Matehaere won the prize for University of Otago Māori Sportsperson of the Year for her distinctive achievements in rowing as an individual. The Otago University Rowing Club snagged OUSA Sports Club of the Year. The Otago Dance Association won highly commended, and Otago University Swim Club got a special mention in this category. Rounding out the sporting achievements was Neil Carr, who won OUSA Coach of the Year for their rowing efforts.
Taking out OUSA Society of the Year was the Otago University Debating Society (obviously argued a good case as to why they should win). The Otago Consulting Club and Microbiology & Immunology Student Associations both received highly commended. OUSA Cultural Society of the Year went to the Otago Malaysian Students’ Association. The Muslim University Students’ Association got highly commended, while a special mention was given to Otago University Omani Students’ Association as well.
Charlie Butler took out the award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture for her achievements in dance. Charlie is President of the Otago Dance Association (ODA). In her time as ODA President, she co-directed and produced ‘Motion Sickness’, which won ‘Best Dance Item’ in the Dunedin Fringe Festival earlier this year. Outside of ODA, she choreographed and was a lead supporting role in the 2025 Capping Show, and co-directed Law Revue this year ‘What we do in the Law School’.
OUSA Administrative Vice President Amy Martin, who was involved in the judging process for the awards, told Critic Te Ārohi that reading through the applications and seeing the full extent of what Otago students are achieving was both inspiring and humbling. “It really highlights just how much passion, talent, and commitment our students bring to so many different areas,” said Amy. “It’s amazing for the students to have the opportunity to be given that moment of recognition and celebration both for the outcomes and the journey and effort that got them there.”
To see the full list of winners, check out the University or OUSA social media accounts. Congratulations again to all the students who excel at something that isn’t competitive lecture skipping.