Award for two decades of tireless philanthropy

Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton (left) with Ian and Sue Emmerson and Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin, celebrating Mr Emmerson's award. Photo / Warren Buckland

The news was still sinking in for Ian Emmerson when he accepted the award for Hawke's Bay Today's 2015 Person of the Year yesterday.

"Its starting to become reality now", the managing director of Emmerson Transport said.

Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton and editor Andrew Austin awarded Mr Emmerson for his tireless charity work over the past 22 years.

Organisations Life Education Trust, Little Elms and Trucking for Child Cancer had all benefited from Mr Emmerson's support, and he didn't plan on stopping anytime soon.

Mr Emmerson said: "It's great seeing the look on kids faces when they go for a ride in the truck or see Harold, and it's amazing how it sticks with them for the rest of their lives."

His message for others wanting to help was to respect their community and give back to where you came from.

"It doesn't cost a lot to put back into the community. As a company we encourage our members to give back to their own communities, we just see it as a reciprocal payback for their support for our business."