Pride of NZ winners: They make you proud to be a Kiwi

Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·

10 Sep, 2014 10:45 AM3 mins to read

Vote for your favourite finalist at www.prideofnzawards.co.nz Greg Brownson gets up at 5.30 and starts work at seven. His helicopters save four people per day, on average. He loves his job. “Even when I’m not on shift I’m still here at 7 to see the guys change over.” Auckland’s Rescue Helicopter Trust has 26 operational staff. Mr Brownson is the most senior of the lot. Brownson has a warm, responsible, organised voice – but now that he gets to play with night vision goggles in his fourth decade on the job, he can be forgiven for sounding excitable. Brownson estimated he is responsible for 1.4 million people in the Auckland-Great Barrier-Waihi catchment. The numbers don’t bother a helicopter hero. He is the longest active serving member of the crew and has performed close to 2000 often lifesaving rescues.

After hundreds of nominations and months of story profiles, some of the country's top unsung heroes have been named winners of the inaugural Pride of New Zealand Awards.

Seven people from around New Zealand received the gongs -- honouring bravery and heroism, community spirit, lifetime achievement, environmental ambassadorship, emergency services