Hawkes Bay Today
  • Hawke's Bay Today home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Havelock North
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Tararua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Pride of NZ: Social work a labour of love

By Nicki Harper
Hawkes Bay Today·
5 Jun, 2014 02:00 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Karen Bothmer Klein says it is the community that deserves the most recognition. Photo/Nicki Harper

Karen Bothmer Klein says it is the community that deserves the most recognition. Photo/Nicki Harper

Karen Bothmer Klein is a reluctant nominee in the community spirit category of this year's Pride of New Zealand awards.

The Waipawa-based social worker works in Central Hawke's Bay for the Social Workers in Schools programme, and her name was put forward by daughter Rosan Bothmer.

"Many people will know her as someone who is kind and cares for everyone and will never turn a blind eye to anyone in need," Miss Bothmer said.

"It always brings a smile to my face when a child approaches me to tell me how much my mum has done for them, or just to tell me how lovely she is."

On learning of her nomination, Mrs Bothmer Klein said she initially intended to decline being put up for the award.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"But then I thought okay, if I'm going to go ahead and I can represent Social Workers in Schools that would be all right."

Social Workers in Schools is funded by the Ministry of Social Development and delivered by Family Works as a service of Presbyterian Support East Coast.

The goal of the programme is to support children to overcome issues and become better engaged with their education, and Mrs Bothmer Klein currently divides her time between Waipukurau, Waipawa, The Terrace and Otane schools.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She works with teachers, children and their families and said it's very rewarding.

"It's not really a job, I feel very fortunate to get paid for what I love doing."

Children play an important part in the lives of the Bothmer Klein family.

After Mrs Bothmer Klein, husband Henri, and their children Rosan and Josarn moved to Waipawa from a small town in the Netherlands in 2006, they immediately began taking in foster children. Today, their family has expanded with the addition of two children who they are fostering for life - Tom, aged 5 and Bindi, 6.

Discover more

Pride of NZ: Recognition for work with disabled welcome

18 Jun 02:00 AM

In her work, she said she sees herself as a middle person, that it's the community that deserves the most recognition.

"When people donate the likes of school shoes, bedding and clothing, I am able to identify children that could use them and pass them on.

"Waipawa New World also donates food for families in need within Waipawa school. One of their workers has even lent a freezer to the school so frozen food can be donated. I set this up and take food from place to place but without the donations it would not be happening.

"I think Central Hawke's Bay is quite unique - there are a lot of volunteers doing all kinds of things to care for the younger members of the community.

"A Pride of New Zealand award should go to the whole community which is contributing to people in need."

The Pride of New Zealand Awards is a joint venture with The Hits radio station and TSB Bank, supported by the New Zealand Herald and APN regional newspapers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There are six categories honouring bravery and heroism, community spirit, lifetime achievement, emergency services, top fundraisers and those making a difference for the environment. Nominations are open until June 15.

For more information and to nominate, visit prideofnzawards.co.nz

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

Hawkes Bay Today

Motorist dies after four crashes in 40 minutes in Hawke's Bay

Hawkes Bay Today

'We have you surrounded': Police stood down after Hawke's Bay stand-off, search continues

Premium
Hawkes Bay Today

Black Ferns: Tui pair on the big bird for matches in South Africa


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

Motorist dies after four crashes in 40 minutes in Hawke's Bay
Hawkes Bay Today

Motorist dies after four crashes in 40 minutes in Hawke's Bay

Some roads remained blocked.

17 Jul 06:02 AM
'We have you surrounded': Police stood down after Hawke's Bay stand-off, search continues
Hawkes Bay Today

'We have you surrounded': Police stood down after Hawke's Bay stand-off, search continues

17 Jul 04:06 AM
Premium
Premium
Black Ferns: Tui pair on the big bird for matches in South Africa
Hawkes Bay Today

Black Ferns: Tui pair on the big bird for matches in South Africa

17 Jul 04:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Hawke's Bay Today e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Hawke's Bay Today
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP