The 2015 Pride of New Zealand Awards Regional Finalists

The 2015 Pride of New Zealand Awards Regional Finalists Announced

16 July 2015 – Unsung Kiwi heroes and those making a significant difference in the lives of others have been recognised as the regional finalists for this year’s Pride of New Zealand Awards are announced.

The Pride of New Zealand Awards, sponsored by The New Zealand Herald, The Hits radio station and TSB Bank, aims to celebrate those Kiwi volunteers, campaigners, fundraisers, care givers and other heroic people who go above and beyond for others.

The regional judging panel was made up of Silver Fern netballer Maria Tutaia, ecostore founder Malcolm Rands, Hospice New Zealand chief executive officer Mary Schumacher, the Weekend Herald and Herald on Sunday editor Miriyana Alexander and The Hits announcer Polly Gillespie.

ecostore founder and judge Malcolm Rands says, “One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a judge has been how inspirational these people are. I'm constantly humbled by the ‘local heroes’ who day in and day out perform selfless acts, just because it is the right thing to do.”

Hospice New Zealand chief executive officer Mary Schumacher says, “I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the judging panel for this year’s Pride of NZ Awards and working with my fellow judges was a fabulous experience. Seeing the huge variety of ways in which New Zealanders are contributing to their communities every day made the judging process extremely challenging but also very heart warming. I congratulate everyone who was put forward.”

The regional finalists in the six categories for each of the four geographical areas are:

Upper North Island finalists:
Bravery & Heroism: Dudley Andrews, Lucy Knight
Community Spirit: Geoffrey Pownall; Laura Howard; Mark Benefield
Emergency Services: Elinor Swery; Liam Connolly; Lindsay Sattler
Environment: Gerry Henley; Rick Braddock; Rod Brown
Fundraiser of the Year: Kern Mangan-Walker; Lynn Brush; Robbie Ritchie
Lifetime Achievement: Joan Swift; Neil Woodhams; Neville Meek

Central North Island finalists:
Bravery & Heroism: Maurice Humphries & Rhys Doyle; Pauline Johnstone
Community Spirit: Avis Leeson; Rochelle Steer; Gary Sarten
Emergency Services: Kevan Old; Craig Morton; Billy Turner
Environment: Debbie Stewart; Chrissy Jefferson; Shirley Sparks
Fundraiser of the Year: Rebecca Harris; Shane Reily; Ryan Topperwien
Lifetime Achievement: Susan Tukaki; Wendy Coxhead; Janice Codlin

Lower North Island finalists:
Bravery & Heroism: Bradley Smith; David Bateman
Community Spirit: Kelly Scarrow; Christine Town-Treweek; Shaun Rankin
Emergency Services: Matthew Morris; Peter Knight; Trudy Taylor
Environment: Graeme and Cherrie Lincoln; Allan Anderson
Fundraiser of the Year: Wendy McCrae; Samantha Hutchinson; Mike Dawes
Lifetime Achievement: Dave Greenberg; Derek Tuck; Jim Edwards

South Island finalists:
Bravery & Heroism: Angus Pauley; Michael Williams
Community Spirit: Robyn Twemlow; Rebekah Malthus; Phil Rossiter
Emergency Services: Maggie Houston; Lawrence Pope; Kerry Higgs
Environment: Barry Maister; Diana Morris, Letitia McRitchie, Alina Atkins, Jim Barrett, Sharon Ross, Matt Hare
Fundraiser of the Year: Carey Vivian; Aine Byrne; Debbie Moody
Lifetime Achievement: Heather Walker; Graeme Humphries; Lois Heads

The overall national award winners will be selected from these regional finalists by a panel of esteemed judges, including NZME chief executive officer Jane Hastings, TSB Bank chief executive officer Kevin Murphy and Sir Peter Leitch.

Voting for the TSB Bank’s People’s Choice Award will commence on Monday, August 17 with the winner from the public vote announced at the prestigious national Pride of New Zealand Awards ceremony on the evening of 16 September. Yealands Wines have committed to be an official event partner for 2015.

Visit www.nzherald.co.nz/prideofnzawards to read nominees and finalists’ stories. The Pride of New Zealand Awards can also be found on Facebook: PrideOfNZAwards and Twitter: @PrideOfNZ with people encouraged to Tweet using #prideofnz and #prideofnzawards.

ENDS

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