Talent RISE has been recognized on the national stage, taking home the Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector at the prestigious 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

The award highlights Talent RISE’s outstanding work in empowering young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds by opening pathways into meaningful employment in the tech and innovation sector.

Held in front of a sold-out crowd of over 1,300 at the TSB arena in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, the 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards showcased Aotearoa’s most innovative and impactful tech companies. The judges praised Talent RISE for its “genuine commitment to social impact through, talent development” and called out its ability to “turn real-world barriers into real-world opportunities.”

Shanelle Patridge, Kaiārahi, Talent RISE Youth Program Manager for New Zealand, said:
“This award is a huge honour and a testament to the incredible young people we work with every day. At RISE, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not and we’re here to change that. Being recognized alongside so many incredible innovators across the tech ecosystem reminds us that inclusion and innovation must go hand in hand.”