LOCAL HEROES AWARD
Reward everyday people doing extraordinary things in their local communities. The Local Heroes Awards recognise the enormous contribution, sacrifice and commitment of Kiwis who selflessly work to make their local communities a better place. Honour someone you know who is making a contribution to their region, town, suburb, community or local group.
2012 Kiwibank Local Hero Medal regional winners can be found by clicking here
Local Heroes may be involved in business, leadership, voluntary work, community and environmental groups, education, sporting clubs, working with the disadvantaged or have displayed courage in overcoming a personal adversity. Whatever their field of endeavours we need to recognise these unsung heroes and say thank you for their inspiration and contribution.
2012 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year - Henare O'Keefe
2011 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year - Billy Graham
2010 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year - Haami (Sam) Tutu Chapman
For more information about the winners then please click here.
Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year 2012
Henare O'Keefe of Hastings
Henare’s experience of growing up in a lower socio-economic household stirred in him a deep commitment to uplifting and inspiring his community. Henare seeks to reverse negative social statistics and is dedicated to combating family violence; mentoring youth; and assisting in the reintegration of prisoners.
He has visited hundreds of schools as an ambassador for Duffy Books in Homes and also set up the U-Turn Academy (now called Youth to Men), a successful fifteen-week intensive course for troubled youth, which featured in the Lost Boys documentary screened on TV3.
Henare has also worked against violence in the family and community through the New Zealand Police Youth Education Service (YES) to help parents keep their children safe. In 2008, he responded to violence against his own family by organising the Enough is Enough hikoi to galvanise community concern and action. Over three thousand people joined him on his march from Flaxmere to the centre of Hastings.
Henare, who is also a Justice of the Peace, was recognised in 2010, when he was awarded the Lloyd Morgan Lions Clubs Charitable Trust Honoured Membership - only the second time in its 30 year history to be given to a non-member.
Recently Henare featured on a Maori Television programme (Te Tuatangata) which demonstrated a comprehensive summary of the contributions he has made and the challenges he has faced.
The Mayor of Hastings, Lawrence Yule says that “Henare’s mantra is what can I do to help others?; he gives from his heart and commits all his time and energy to helping others.”
2012 Kiwibank Local Hero Finalists
Bernie Monk, Greymouth
Bernie Monk from the tiny settlement of Paroa near Greymouth found himself appointed as spokesperson for the Pike River Mine by the families of the 29 miners and contractors, including his own son, who tragically died in an explosion in the Pike River Mine in November 2010.
Bernie bought together over 50 individual people who make up the family members and has united, led and mentored the group since that fateful day.
The role has seen Bernie front to the media on behalf of his and other families on numerous occasions, attend a highly-charged series of police briefings at the time of the incident, remain the contact person for all family-related matters in the intervening period, and, recently, attend and give evidence in the series of hearings comprising the Royal Commission into the incident.
Bernies drive for transparency from all those involved in the Pike River disaster has seen him commit much of his week to this work and can be contacted by family members and the media 24 hours a day.
He has represented the group with strength and dignity and maintained strong advocacy on its behalf without taking positions which would be unconstructive. He has done this at a time of ongoing personal distress for himself and his family.
The community of Greymouth has found strength and confort in Bernie’s enduring dedication and committment as a voice for the families and in maintaining a spotlight on the mining industry.
John Hartnell of Christchurch
John Hartnell lives in rural Christchurch and is an exporter of honey and honey related products. He is nominated in recognition of his leadership of Federated Farmers ‘Farmy-Army’, which assisted Christchurch’s earthquake recovery after the February and June events. Mr Hartnell took on the role as Federated Farmers Earthquake Spokesperson the morning following the February earthquake. John worked closely with Civil Defence and Christchurch City Council, to understand the immediate needs of Christchurch residents. This identified what assistance that would fit with the abilities and enthusiasm of Federated Farmers members. There have been numerous on-going commitments, from residual clean-up efforts to lecturing on adverse events.
John worked around 84 hours a week throughout February and in early March. This was again repeated over several weeks in the aftermath of the June earthquake. It was common for the media to call from 5.15am through to 11pm at night. All the while, he also had to find the time to run his own business in between what became a major undertaking, physically and psychologically.
The actions of the Farmy Army did a tremendous job in breaking down the rural-urban divide with compassion and caring shown by country people; something not often seen in the larger cities today. What has amazed many, are the number of Christchurch people who, upon learning our people are farmers, without prompting said, "are you part of the Farmy Army? What a magnificent job", or "they arrived and cleared my elderly neighbour's section" and "they cleaned up my driveway when I was away working", "They were a Godsend". This contribution was recognised by Federated Farmers in June, when it named John Hartnell, Agri-Personality of the Year for 2011. It also recognised the thousands who had volunteered through the Farmy Army.
For further information about John please see http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/n3298.html
2012 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year
Semi-Finalists
Sam Johnson of Christchurch
The founder and leader of the Student Volunteer Army in Christchurch. Sam utilized social networking skills to pull together a volunteer army of thousands of students to help out the shaken Christchurch community after both the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes. He created a Facebook page that brought the students, carrying shovels and wearing gumboots, onto the streets of Christchurch to help with the earthquake cleanup. Sam then worked with local authorities coordinating the students relief effort organising teams and equipment to help cleanup those areas most affected by the quake damage. The SVA has grown to have a support base of over 26,000 people and continues to provide a student volunteering community for Christchurch, both Earthquake related and unrelated. Sam was also able to transfer his skills to help Japan after their devastating tsunami and earthquake, where he worked with Japanese students to help them set up a similar scheme. Sam’s ability to pull together resources and lead a team of volunteers inspired glowing recommendations from across the globe and contributed to a more positive image of students.
Tristan Roberts of Kaiapoi
Tristan is a volunteer for the NZ Volunteer Fire Service and St John Ambulance. He also volunteers his time each week running a joint leadership program between the Fire Brigade and the R13 Trust which provides alternative educational and skill programs for young people not progressing in school. He worked very long days after the February earthquake, at the peril of his own business, assisting the community in their recovery.
Morgan Perry of Christchurch
Morgan has organised an endless amount of fundraisers and events, completely out of the kindness of his heart, showing a huge amount of generosity and compassion towards others. He is a founding member of the Student Volunteer Army and worked seventeen hour days, seven days a week following the Canterbury Earthquake, all voluntarily. He serves on the University of Canterbury Student Executive, a tribute to his leadership and dedication. He has also initiated various fundraising efforts to raise money to help those in need. Following the passing of two of his fellow students, Morgan raised enough money to cover their rents for the remainder of the year, and then with the left over money he went on to set up scholarships in their names. Morgan has also fundraised for his friend Jamie Gilbert’s children after the February Quake. Morgan has had to overcome many obstacles himself but he has always worked hard to pull through has come out the other side shining.
Robert Shaw of Taneatua, Bay of Plenty
For the last 51 years Robert has either coached or managed the Whakatane Tai Mitchell Rugby team. (Tai Mitchell is the equivalent of the Auckland Roller Mills rugby tournament, a tournament for Year 7 & 8 boys.) He is very passionate about rugby and sees rugby as a way to teach boys life skills - they can learn about team work, problem solving, supporting your mates, leadership to name just a few. He has donated thousands of hours to the club and the young people of Taneatua. Also as Principal of the local school for the past 16years and being a local Taneatua boy, Rob knows all the problems of the town and he uses sport (namely rugby, but not just rugby) to help the children of the town to feel belonging, comradeship and to set goals and build commitment to something. Rob has not had an easy time over the last 7 years. His son Greg, who was his 'best mate', drowned while surfing during Cyclone Ivy in 2004. This was an incredible blow to Rob. It was almost a month before Gregs body was recovered from the ocean. Rob was devastated but the number of people who headed to Omaio to join the search was testament to the esteem he is held in. There were several hundred people there over a 3 week period, all there to support Rob in his time of need. That year, Rob remained Manager for the Whakatane Tai Mitchell team. Many of the boys he has mentored do not have role models in their family. Some have come from troubled backgrounds and Rob has helped them grow into positive young men. Some of these he has become a whangai (Maori adoption) father figure to. This winter, Rob was struck by tragedy again. During heavy rain in June, the cliff behind Robs home in Ohope, collapsed in a landslide, which killed his 17 year old whangai son Hugh Biddle. Rob has not only lost his 2 sons, but he has also lost his home!
This was a quote from Rob last year in a local newspaper article, before his celebration. "You see, it’s not the game that is important it is what it teaches young people."
Julie Bartlett of Auckland
Julie is a remarkable person who has a unique set of leadership qualities. She is able to mobilise thousands of people seemingly without effort; empower them to do things they never thought they could do and then hand over the credit to members of her team. For the past 17 years she has dedicated her life to helping others reach their potential. It is her role as founder and CEO of StarJam that her leadership has manifested results considered impossible by most. StarJam is a super-charity offering our young Kiwi disabled community opportunities to build confidence and character through performance, who in turn provide motivation and inspiration to their audiences.
Lyla Sherriff of Tuatapere, Southland
Lyla embodies true ‘Kiwi’ spirit and through countless volunteer hours over many years is the backbone of her local community. Some examples of the groups she has initiated and run over the years and of which she is now a life member of in recognition of her invaluable contribution.
Tuatapere Playcentre
Southland Playcentre Assn
Waiau Swimming Club
Tuatapere Hospital Trust
Tuatapere/Orepuki Scottish Country Dancing
Tuatapere Highland Piping & Dancing Society
Waiau Community Theatre
Tuatapere Association of Presbyterian Women (APW)
Auditor – Lyla is currently the auditor for 6 local Clubs and Organisations.
Tuatapere Schools Jubilee Committee - Lyla served on this committee which organised and ran the schools Jubilee which was held in January 2010 and was Banquet Convenor and Church Services Convenor.
Lyla is highly respected amongst the Southland community and the Awards Office received many phone calls to ensure we had received a nomination!
Louise (Lou) Roebuck of New Plymouth
Lou Roebuck is the founder of the WAVES Youth Health Service in New Plymouth. Lou as a huge commitment to the wellbeing needs of young people in the community and will go the extra mile to make sure young people get a voice, and advocates for them at both local and national levels. WAVES has over 5000 young people that access the service. Many have come from lives of neglect and abuse and Lou has given them hope and a reason to push for a better future. None of the people that attend WAVES crime prevention programmes have been back to jail.