USO Bike Ride wins Regional Community Awards

Friday, 16 November 2018, 12:37 pm
Press Release: Wellington International Airport Limited

Friday 16 November 2018

USO Bike Ride, a whānau that uses cycling to promote better health and wellbeing for Pacific and Māori, won the Supreme Award at the 2018 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards last night.

The USO Bike Ride kaupapa is simple, get regular medical checks, be smokefree, eat healthy, minimise alcohol use and exercise regularly. Through cycling events, they empower their community to speak up and be open about health and other issues that prevent them from reaching their potential.

Steve Sanderson, Chief Executive of Wellington Airport, said USO Bike Ride embodied the spirit of the Regional Community Awards. “The team from USO Bike Ride are passionate about empowering their community, working together to make a difference and improve health and wellbeing.

“We are proud to celebrate the contribution of community group volunteers the with the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards each year. The caliber of finalists this year was exceptional and we congratulate all the winning groups and their volunteers.”

“We had this vision that more Pacific and Māori people would be cycling on our road, and we could see it in Porirua and throughout Aotearoa.” said Talalelei Taufale from USO Bike Ride on receiving the award. “But it’s about more than just sharing the road. It's about us as a community, as a nation, leading the world in how we should live a better-quality health and wellbeing lifestyle. Thank you to our sponsors, lead riders and other whanau that make USO special.”

Roger Palairet, Chair of Wellington Community Trust said: “This was my first year of judging the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards as Chair of the Wellington Community Trust. I was so impressed with the breadth and depth of the voluntary sector in the Wellington region. The creativity of ideas and the length of service and dedication of volunteers is truly impressive. “There are no winners and losers with these Awards, the celebration is a coming together of wonderful winners from across our region”.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the awards. Wellington Airport and Wellington Community Trust have contributed significant time and investment to the awards over the past fifteen years, recognising hundreds of community groups across the region.

Wellington Airport also awarded five local high school students $3000 scholarships in the Wild at Heart Spirit Awards. These winners demonstrate self-motivation in service to their community and college.

Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards 2018 Winners

• Supreme Award: USO Bike Ride
• Arts and Culture: Tape Art New Zealand
• Education and Child/Youth Development: The Shed Project Kapiti
• Health and Wellbeing: Every Body Is a Treasure Charitable Trust
• Heritage and Environment: Ghost Fishing New Zealand
• Sport and Leisure: USO Bike Ride
• Rising Star Award: WELLfed

Wild at Heart Spirit Award Scholarship recipients:

• Ethan Makisi - Rongotai College
• Evana Philip - St Catherine’s College
• James Reilly - St Patrick’s College
• Jackson Lacy - Scots College
• Hailey Kapadia - Wellington East Girls’ College

ENDS

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Wellington Airport

Wild at Heart

Wellington Airport provides a world class airport for visitors, the Wellington region and New Zealand. It's international terminal, The Rock, is ranked 4th best in the World. Being very close to the CBD saves 5.4 million travellers plenty of time and makes Wellington a more attractive place to visit. The Airport won the Wellington Gold Awards for Safety and is a major supporter of local events, attractions and community groups.

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