Fu Man (Amanda) Yang, a Tauranga Girls' College Year 13 student, has won (first equal) a national competition with her entry commemorating the Battle of Passchendaele.

The battle, which happened 100 years ago in October 1917, is said to be ‘Our Darkest Day' in New Zealand's history.

Amanda wins a place as a Youth Ambassador for New Zealand, visiting the site in Belgium in October for the Battle of Passchendaele centenary with the New Zealand Defence Force contingent.

The Youth Ambassador programme is an initiative of the Minister of Veterans to ensure the enduring legacy of NZ veterans is carried into the future. The programme involves the current generation of young New Zealanders sharing their stories and experiences of remembering NZ's service in war and conflict.

Amanda submitted a poem titled Passchendaele 12 October 1917. The judging panel Amanda's entry was ‘compelling, thought-provoking and highly emotive.'

Tauranga Girls' College has had a focus over the past year on the centenary of the Great War, with a school history trip in April 2016 to Europe which included the WW1 battle sites in the Passchendaele and Somme areas.

Amanda's prize is an all-expenses paid, three-week trip and $2000 cash.