Frances Denz was the the winner of the Senior New Zealander of the Year and Cecilia Sullivan Grant from Dunedin was a Local Heroes winner. Photo / Ruth Keber
Frances Denz was the the winner of the Senior New Zealander of the Year and Cecilia Sullivan Grant from Dunedin was a Local Heroes winner. Photo / Ruth Keber
Tauranga's Frances Denz has paid tribute to the people she has taught over 40 years after being named Metlife Senior New Zealander of the year.
"I made a little speech about how ... it wasn't about us, it was about our clients who have grown and developed, these awards arereally as much about them and honouring their work too."
The Otumoetai resident and businesswoman was recognised in Wednesday's 2014 New Zealander of the Year awards for her work in business leadership and education in the Tauranga area.
Ms Denz has spent 40 years developing innovative teaching practices and learning experiences for those people that many would consider unteachable. "The two nicest phrases I have heard from clients are 'thank you for teaching me how to think' and that was from a guy who had literacy problems. And the other one was 'Frances trusted us to be successful' ... This has come from a person with a high level of disability ..."
She sat next to Labour leader David Cunliffe and talked politics with Prime Minister John Key.
Ms Denz received her award alongside the person who nominated her. Local Hero of the Year winner Cecilia Sullivan-Grant said she and Ms Denz had been friends for many years and Ms Denz was one of her mentors.
