This story draws on reporting by The Southland Tribune.

An Invercargill hairdressing student who has been in the industry for only about a year and a half has taken out a national title for emerging stylists.

Haylee Clark, who is studying at the Southern Institute of Technology towards the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing (Professional Stylist), has won the Next Generation section of the 2026 NZHA Patrick Cameron Bridal Challenge. The result was announced on Sunday night at the New Zealand Hair Awards, held at the Tākina convention centre in Wellington, the Southland Tribune reported on Wednesday.

Fellow SIT student Holly Wolf finished fourth, meaning two of the five top placings in the category went to Invercargill. Both were among 10 finalists chosen from what organisers said was a record number of entries. Entry is limited to students, trainees and stylists with fewer than four years since qualifying.

Entrants had to produce professional photographs of a bridal look featuring soft curls, detailed braiding and a polished finish. Clark said she had turned to Patrick Cameron's own style books for ideas when putting her entry together.

"I was so shocked," she told the Tribune, adding that what she had achieved had not yet sunk in.

Wolf said that reaching the final 10 had already felt like a reward in itself, whatever the result.

The pair travelled to Wellington with their tutors, Helen Lee and Trish Dowling. Lee had encouraged the Level 4 class to enter and three students took her up on it. Seeing two of them on the national stage representing SIT was, she said, overwhelming.

Patrick Cameron, the New Zealand-born, UK-based stylist whose name is on the award and who is known internationally for long-hair and bridal work, met the SIT students before the ceremony. He holds an MBE for services to hairdressing.

Clark only joined the SIT programme in March. Her prize includes a training package and the winner's trophy. With her two-year qualification almost complete, she told the Tribune she hoped to find full-time work in a salon in Invercargill.

The result follows a run of national recognition for SIT students this year. Three of its game design students won scholarships to the New Zealand Game Developers Conference last month, and its music students and graduates featured prominently at the Southland Music Awards.

SIT runs its hairdressing programmes from its Invercargill campus.