Marlburians short-listed for tall honour

Lucy Blakiston, the Marlburian behind the influential platform Shit You Should Care About, finds herself in the final three for a prestigious award alongside another finalist with Marlborough roots, Auckland-based creative Leon Bristow. A third local, Canterbury transplant Leatham Landon-Lane, made the cut in another category.

Leon and Lucy dot the short list for Go Media Young New Zealander of the Year at the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards. For 2degrees New Zealand Innovator of the Year, Leatham joined tech-business teammate Jonathan Ring in a finalist position.

The list became public on Thursday evening. Winners will be announced on 19 March at a gala in Auckland.

As highlighted in her finalist mention, Lucy turned a passion project she started in her bedroom into a source of news and commentary for millions of engaged young people worldwide. She has three million Instagram followers and is the author of the guidebook Make It Make Sense.

"It’s so sick and also very humbling to be still in the 'young' category!" she told Marlborough App. "I'm so excited to bring my family up to the awards night and have the loudest table in the whole room, too!"

Leon has progressed from Head Boy at Queen Charlotte College to a media and communications leader in Auckland. He is an advertising agency art director at Colenso BBDO and founder of BEING, a casting platform which champions diversity.

Mayor Nadine Taylor expressed provincial pride for Leon and Lucy: "It is amazing and awesome to have two of three NZ nominees having completed their early years and high schooling, and been young leaders, here in Marlborough."

Harlem-Cruz Ihaia of Hawke's Bay is the other finalist. The award recognises "young leaders aged 15 to 30 whose ideas, energy, and commitment are transforming Aotearoa," organisers explain. "These are the rangatahi challenging the status quo, lifting up others, and laying the groundwork for a more connected, inclusive, and ambitious future."

Leatham, dux when at Marlborough Boys' College, built a start-up from his school days at University of Canterbury into a cutting-edge waste recycling firm, Zethos (formerly Zincology), in Christchurch. Jonathan is the CEO, Leatham the CTO.

Their award category is "for those turning bold ideas into real-world impact. These innovators lead with courage and creativity, pushing boundaries in science, tech, culture or social change. Their mahi moves Aotearoa forward – and opens doors for those coming next."

The other innovator finalists are James Hayes, also from Canterbury, and Craig Piggott of Auckland.

Visit nzawards.org.nz for more about the finalists in each category.