Public invited to Trustpower National Community Awards

Lake Taupō Hospice will represent Taupō at the Trustpower National Community Awards after its win at the Taupō and Waipa Trustpower Community Awards.

The public is being invited to attend the Trustpower National Community Awards to hear volunteers share their stories.

The awards celebrate volunteers and representatives and will feature representatives from the 26 voluntary groups named Supreme Winner at their regional Trustpower Community Awards, along with the mayor or a council representative from each region.

The awards run from March 29 to 31 and feature a presentation and judging day on March 30 which the public can register to attend.

On that day, each group will give an eight-minute presentation sharing their story, achievements and why they deserve to be the Trustpower National Community Awards Supreme Winner.

Trustpower community and communications advisor, Alice Boyd, encouraged the public to watch the presentations.

"Each of the voluntary organisations attending the Trustpower National Community Awards are groups of special people doing amazing things all over Aotearoa.

"We are delighted to bring these generous and hard-working volunteers and their stories to Tauranga, and invite the public to come along and hear all about what these remarkable people have achieved."

The supreme winner and runner-up will be announced at a private awards dinner on March 30.

The supreme winner will receive a custom-made trophy, $4000 cash and a $1000 voucher for Exult.

The runner-up will receive $2500 cash and a $500 Exult voucher.

The inaugural Trustpower Award recipient will recieve $1000 cash while the Whetū Mātaiata recipient, an award that recognises a group with strong potential, will get a consultancy service package from Exult.

The awards are judged by an independent panel.

To register to watch the presentations, being held at Holy Trinity Tauranga, find the event on eventfinda.

The finalists
- Under the Stars, supreme winner, Tauranga
- Maketū Volunteer Coastguard, supreme winner, Western Bay of Plenty
- KaiMatariki Trust, supreme winner, Far North District
- Lake Taupō Hospice Trust, supreme winner, Taupō
- Kainga Aroha Society Incorporated, supreme winner, Waipa
- Adventure Wairoa, supreme winner, Wairoa District
- Apumoana Marae Committee, supreme winner, Rotorua
- Edgecumbe Development & Improvement Team, supreme winner, Whakatāne
- Palmerston North Search & Rescue, supreme winner, Palmerston North
- Dannevirke Cave Dwellers, supreme winner, Tararua
- Matipo Community Development Charitable Trust, supreme winner, Whanganui
- Lauriston School Support, supreme winner, Ashburton
- Alzheimer's South Canterbury, supreme winner,Timaru
- The Whalan Lodge Trust, supreme winner, Waitaki
- St John Central Otago Shuttle, supreme winner, Central Otago
- The Wakatipu Wildlife Trust, supreme winner, Queenstown
- Wildlife Hospital, supreme winner, Dunedin
- Owaka Cavalcade Host Town Committee, supreme winner, Clutha
- South Catlins Charitable Trust, supreme winner, Invercargill and Southland
- Inspiring Youth Theatre Charitable Trust, supreme winner, Nelson
- Beyond the Bridge Riwaka, supreme winner, Tasman
- Picton Dawn Chorus, supreme winner, Marlborough
- Reefton Returned and Services Association, supreme winner, Buller
- Community Promotions Group, supreme winner, Grey District
- Lions Club of Hokitika, supreme winner, Westland