It was a nomination which struck home strongly with the judging panel of Sir Graeme Avery, IronMaori founder Heather Skipworth, Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin and deputy editor Mark Story.
And it was a decision which also struck a strong and emotional chord with Napier City councillor and member of the Tu Tangata Maraenui Trust Maxine Boag who, along with other community exponents like Pat Magill, has worked in closely with Minnie.
"It is fantastic, wonderful news," Ms Boag said.
"Minnie is a selfless community volunteer who has done so much for her people and she is a reflection of all the positive attitudes of those people in Maraenui."
Ms Boag said Minnie spent so much of her own time supporting others, despite her own circumstances.
"She is so giving and she is always there for people."
That reflected what Ms Rose said.
She too has worked in closely with Minnie and along with Kevin Tamati staged a hui three years ago focused on synthetic cannabis users and how they could be helped.
She said she made her nomination to acknowledge "the ordinary people in our communities that every day do extraordinary things for others".
"They are our true champions and without them the richest among us would be lost."
For Minnie, the accolade was unexpected, but a thrill as it would help in highlighting the work she and many other did for their communities.
When she got the call to say she had been chosen as the Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year she was stunned, and with a laugh said her first reaction was to swear.
"It is awesome and it is so good to be recognised," she said.
"I've been telling close friends I've won this — I've never won an award before."
She paid tribute to Ms Boag and Pat Magill, who she described as her mentors, and also paid tribute to the many agencies and service organisations she worked in with.
She had changed her own life around dramatically and said the real joy in her life now was "the amazing feeling you get when you help someone and see them change".
There were a lot of people who deserved such awards, Minnie said, and she saw it as a way of highlighting certain needs in Maraenui and across the wider community.
"It has made me so happy to receive this and it will motivate me even more."
Ms Rose said one thing that summed Minnie up was when she asked her once about whether her own personal needs would ever make it to the top of her assistance list.
She said Minnie was a humble and inspirational "everyday person" and when asked that she simply laughed.
It was all about helping others first.
Ms Boag said Minnie would simply step up and help people on a "face to face" and committed level.
"She puts her arms around people and is so down to earth," she said.
"And she does all this as an unpaid volunteer who does it for the love of the people."
She said Minnie had been a key person for her to work with in her own community work in Maraenui.
