Worthy Volunteers Recognised In Civic Awards

Worthy Volunteers Recognised In Civic Awards

Four Porirua residents were recognised this week for their outstanding voluntary service to the Porirua community.

Rihia Kenny, Professor John Wells, and Dave Wilson received Civic Awards at Pataka on Monday while Christine Stanley will be presented her award at the next Council meeting.

The Civic Awards recognise volunteers who have given their time to community, recreation, youth, aged, welfare, cultural and educational services.

Rihia Kenny, awarded for her contribution to cultural services, has been actively involved with the community of Takapuwahia and the wider Porirua area for most of her life. She regularly volunteers her time to assist with events that occur at Takapuwahia, and is the principle kaikaranga of Ngati Toa. She is the first to greet visitors who come to the Marae. This means she is often one of the first to arrive and the last to leave tribal and community events.

She is well-recognised and loved within Ngati Toa and the wider Wellington region.

Rihia is a long serving member of Ngati Toa’s Kaumatua Council. For over 50 years she has spent giving her time freely to facilitate and teach programmes to the youth of Ngati Toa and the Porirua area.

She is tireless in her efforts to preserve and share Ngati Toa’s culture and history. She has influenced many generations of Ngati Toa and continues to provide guidance to members of the tribe and the wider public.

Professor Wells, awarded for his service in the fields of recreation & education, has had a long term love affair with Pauatahanui Inlet since arriving in New Zealand in 1976.

As a member of the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University, he quickly became involved in research in marine ecology in the Inlet. He was also a Trustee of the Karori Wildlife Trust between 1993-1997.

After moving to Whitby in 1999, he became a member of the Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet and became Chairperson in 2003. Under John’s leadership the Guardians have been the major organisation gathering and co-ordinating community awareness and involvement in the environmental protection of Pauatahanui Inlet.

John became a Trustee of the Pauatahanui Inlet Community Trust in 2003 and a founding Trustee of the Porirua Harbour and Catchment Community Trust in 2012.

In each of these roles, he has brought a broad scientific understanding to discussion about Porirua Harbour.

Dave Wilson, recognised for his work in the areas of recreation, education & youth activities, has for many years committed his time and energy to develop the Ole Soccer Academy along with its synthetic turf.

This started in 1997 and it is a tribute to the determination and focus of Dave that these facilities are available for our community.

The Academy coaches help 10-12yr olds in Porirua Schools. They have U13 & U16 teams training three times a week. The premier league has 24 youth in education (NCEA). They do not play soccer unless they meet the education standards. The education component is a requirement to achieve in the Academy.

With his “never give-up attitude”, Dave has developed an education facility around sport that is unique to New Zealand and a real education benefit to our Porirua community.

Christine Stanley, for her work in recreation and education, has long been involved in voluntary work in the Pauatahanui community. Her services continue to be sought, especially in connection with environmental management in the Porirua Harbour and its catchments.

Christine was one of three co-founders and a committee member of Pauatahanui Early Education Society from 1985-1989. This was New Zealand’s first multi-purpose preschool incorporating a crèche, kindergarten and playgroup.

Christine continued her voluntary work with the community as Chair (1985-90) and Treasurer (1998-2002) of the Pauatahani Residents Assn. She was a Trustee (1989-92) and voluntary telephone counsellor (1988-89) of the Wellington Sexual Abuse Help Foundation. Christine was a co-founder and Chair of the Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet.

ENDS

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