Pinnacle Programme Offers Unique Scholarship Opportunity For Young New Zealanders
An initiative to reward, encourage and assist young New Zealanders to achieve their potential was launched in Auckland today, providing a potential pathway to help young New Zealanders ‘achieve great things’ in their area of expertise.
Pinnacle Programme has been in place for some years as a mentoring scheme for young sports men and women, but at a re-launch today the new look Pinnacle Programme now offers a unique scholarship opportunity for young (15 to 18 years) Kiwis from all backgrounds to achieve their dreams.
Pinnacle will apply proven principles across all area of endeavour, including, but not limited, to art, sport, science and business. It will provide a unique scholarship experience, allowing participants to experience two of New Zealand's prominent and iconic leadership programmes - Spirit of Adventure Trust and Outward Bound, as well as high performance workshops from some of New Zealand's leading service providers.
Access to personal mentors will then be utilised to lay successful foundations for the future of New Zealand's emerging talents.
Former Olympic triathlete Debbie Tanner is the Manager of the Pinnacle Programme and spoke at today’s launch of the motivation from primary backer and investor Hyundai Motors New Zealand.
“We wanted to help talented young Kiwis achieve their potential in becoming country and world leaders of tomorrow, to inspire the youth of today that they can achieve great things and, as the largest wholly New Zealand owned mainstream car distributor, it is appropriate for us we invest in the community via this programme.”
And the Pinnacle Programme has heavyweight support, with Sir Graham Henry on an advisory Board chaired by current Rowing New Zealand CEO Simon Peterson, and including former CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi (NZ and London) James Hall,
“It's exciting to continue to be involved in assisting talented young New Zealanders try and fulfil their dreams,” said Sir Graham. “They will be fortunate to have access to two of New Zealand iconic personal and leadership development programmes, Spirit of Adventure Trust and Outward Bound. As well as this they will have access to personalized mentoring and performance workshops.”
Pinnacle Programme enjoys a similarly hard hitting and influential group of New Zealanders on the Selection Panel, this group is charged with The music industry is represented on the selection panel by former ‘Dudes’ front man and long time leading figure in the New Zealand music scene, Peter Urlich.
"I'm honoured and excited to be involved with the Pinnacle Programme because of the opportunity it could offer to next young musical hotshot that I know is out there, somewhere. Often it is having the opportunity to express and deliver on a talent that might otherwise go unnoticed, this country has an amazing capacity to over achieve in the world of music, Pinnacle Programme is a new and great way to help identify and nurture that talent.”
General Manager Hyundai New Zealand Andy Sinclair underlined why Hyundai has chosen to invest considerable resources in the Pinnacle Programme.
“We want to live up to our values by putting something back into the community; to have an association with being the best at whatever we do. We want to be involved in the development of future NZ leaders that NZ can be proud of and that will inspire children to be the best they can.
“We want to help support and develop young Kiwis when they need it most and provide them with the life skills that will help them succeed both in their chosen disciplines and life as a whole.”
Pinnacle Programme is a progressive pathway that takes an initial induction of 20 Pinnacle Programme candidates through the Spirit of Adventure ten day sailing, from which a further 10 candidates will then be selected for the Outward Bound course.
Candidates emerging as leaders within the group will then be selected for a 6 to 12 month mentoring programme with an expert in their chosen field, after which 2 or 3 will graduate the Pinnacle Programme.
Pinnacle Programme does have an element of competition, with candidates effectively being chosen to continue at each stage of the journey. However all who are initially selected will benefit from their inclusion in the programme and the expertise of the programmes and mentors.
For further information and how to apply, visit www.pinnacleprogramme.co.nz
Pinnacle Programme – Advisory Board
Simon Peterson – Chairman
Debbie Tanner – Manager
Sir Graham Henry
Howard Spencer
Richard Giltrap
Jo Clayton
James Hall
Darren Kirkland
Pinnacle Programme – Selection Panel
Peter Urlich – musician/singer
Flox – leading NZ artist
Bernice Mene – former Silver Fern
Mike Edward – actor
Arthur Young – businessman
Toni Street - broadcaster
Further comment from Pinnacle Programme partners:
CEO of Spirit of Adventure Dean Lawrence says his organisation is a keen partner with Pinnacle Programme.
“The Spirit of Adventure Trust is pleased to partner with the Pinnacle programme, by having its iconic 10 day youth development programme as a key component of the Pinnacle programme. This further strengthens an already strong relationship between both organisations which has now been in place now for 3 years.
“The synergies of both the Spirit and Pinnacle programme philosophies will provide the youth of New Zealand with outstanding opportunities to fully develop their potential, will be of benefit to them individually and ultimately the wider NZ community.”
Hayley King aka Flox – leading NZ artist is proud to represent the arts on the selection panel.
“I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to nurture kids under the umbrella of the Pinnacle Programme. As a representative of the New Zealand arts sector, a forever growing and eclectic industry, it is so great to see an agenda that truly fosters the arts within our up and coming youth of today.
“The arts are so commonly overlooked as a viable career option, so with the Pinnacle Programme, kids are going to be given a real opportunity to make their dreams come true.”