Editorial: Acclaim for our heroes

Nominations are now open for the Pride of New Zealand Awards.

As your local newspaper, we're proud to highlight the efforts and achievements of our community's otherwise unsung heroes.

We love telling you about the amazing accomplishments of your fellow citizens. Every year the Bay of Plenty Times Person of the Year notes the accomplishments of one of you and in 2013 the honour went to hero policeman Deane O'Connor, who saved the life of Maungatapu Bridge crash victim Ashley Donkersley.

For the last three years the paper has helped Tauranga Community Foodbank through the Christmas appeal.

Our newly added weekly columns are more opportunities to connect to the lives and histories of some of our most interesting locals.

Each Wednesday Sonya Bateson's column Awesome Teachers profiles a Bay teacher nominated by you.

Our Friday newsmaker column looks deeper into a local making the headlines.

In recognition of the growing diversity in the Bay, in the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend reporter Ruth Keber each week visits a Bay family which has moved here from overseas.

And in a new series, Bay of Plenty Times Gives Back, our reporting team has been giving its time to local causes, with journalists so far turning their hand to everything from cleaning out animal beds for the SPCA, to surf lifesaving, to saving whales.

Now the most remarkable among you have a chance to be celebrated on the national stage, with the Pride of New Zealand Awards, run in association with sponsors including our sister paper the New Zealand Herald, the Hits radio station and TSB Bank, and supported by the Bay of Plenty Times.

As detailed on page 9, nominations are now open for the awards, which will recognise leaders, campaigners, volunteers, teachers, caregivers and other unsung heroes who have done something extraordinary in our community.

There are so many stories out there - stories of pride, dedication, commitment and passion.

You can help us tell those stories.

For more information and to nominate, visit the Pride of New Zealand website www.prideofnzawards.co.nz.