Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Ltd

For immediate release

26 February 2015

Community of the Year award winner announced

Paihia has been rewarded for its emphasis on community by being named the winner of the Mitre 10 Community of the Year award as part of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year awards ceremony in Auckland last night.

The annual awards, now in their sixth year, is a celebration of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

The Mitre 10 Community of the Year award focuses on team work, enthusiasm, hard work and co-operation and acknowledges groups actively working to improve the social, economic, cultural or environmental prosperity of their region.

Paihia were selected winners as the residents have worked together to boost the local economy and revitalise the region through increasing facilities and events to create a town full of lifestyle opportunities.

Paihia’s entry into the awards was arranged by the Focus Paihia Community Trust, a group that has been committed to revitalising the Bay of Islands town over the past five years.

“I couldn’t be more proud to accept this award on behalf of our community,” said Tiffany Holland, Co-ordinator at Focus Paihia. “I would like to thank Mitre 10 for giving us this wonderful opportunity to gain some recognition for all the wonderful efforts that our community do for our town.

“We’re so lucky to have a diverse, extremely talented bunch of people in our town who are willing to give their time.”

Focus Paihia last night accepted a winner’s cheque of $5000 and a hand-crafted trophy for the award.

Other finalists for the Mitre 10 Community of the Year Award were Community Fruit Harvesting and the VisionWest Community Trust.

Mitre 10 chief executive Neil Cowie said it was an honour to sponsor the Community of the Year award for the sixth year and was extremely impressed with Paihia’s achievements.

“As a proudly locally owned and operated business, we know only too well the importance of community. From the smallest Mitre 10 store right through to our biggest Mitre 10 MEGA, our store owners throughout the country each have a strong connection to the community in which they operate.

“The residents of Paihia are a shining example. They’ve demonstrated the power of a community and how it can draw people together and transform a place for the better. Their

effort is putting Paihia back on the map, and it has only been possible through the tireless effort of hundreds of volunteers.”

Some of the projects introduced by Focus Paihia include the Harcourt Pro Am Golf Tournament, Paihia Half-Marathon and even Bathtub Racing. They have some major projects in the pipeline including the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park, Opua Railway Station and the 2014 Placemaking Projects.

Other winners announced at last night’s awards included the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Sir Stephen Tindall, The University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year Guy Ryan, Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year Donald Sew Hoy, Sanitarium Innovator of the Year Peter Beck, and the Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Billie Jordan.

Past winners of the Community of the Year award are Victim Support, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ, the town of Paeroa, Gibbston Community Association of Central Otago and the Victory Village.

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