Award winner calls for new entries

Kathleen Mato, who won the national Environmental Award in last year's Pride of New Zealand Awards, is urging Kiwis to get their nominations in for this year's awards. Photo / File

Katherine Mato, 72, has kept busy since she won the Environmental Award at last year's inaugural Pride of New Zealand Awards.

The Mahia environmentalist told Hawke's Bay Today the honour had brought many new volunteers to the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group, as it strives to plant more than 200,000 trees to help restore water quality and local ecosystems.

"I didn't expect us to receive that award, but it was a huge honour to receive it. Since then the project has intensified - we are quite busy," she said of the initiative, which has planted 16,000 trees along the river so far.

The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group was launched in Mahia in 2010 as local concerns about wastewater ponds polluting the mouth of the Whangawehi River grew. Ms Mato started the group and it is now a unified body of stakeholders including marae, landowners, agencies and school representatives, working together to better manage land and water in the catchment and also co-ordinate environmental work and education in the community.

Ms Mato is now calling on Kiwis to support their local heroes in this year's Pride of New Zealand awards, with nominations opening on May 4.

"I think it's worthwhile, because it creates publicity for an organisation. We seem to have gained a lot of support, so that's a bonus for us.

"I'd just like to say thank you so much to Pride of New Zealand for the support they've given us."

Hawke's Bay had a strong showing in last year's awards, which saw more than 700 people nominated across six categories.

Two of the national winners were local - Ms Mato and Hastings' Wade Kelly, who charged into the surf to rescue four people. Responding to a call for help, Mr Kelly grabbed his surfboard and raced out towards Anton Randell, his wife, Kirsty, 10-year-old son Josh, and Josh's friend Jaimie Nichols, 12.

His deeds during the 45-minute rescue in 2013 earned him the Bravery and Heroism Award.

National finalists in the awards from Hawke's Bay were the Swannell Family (Community Spirit Award), of Napier, for running a mobile soup kitchen for the homeless in Clive Square, Hai Tong Too (Lifetime Achievement), Napier, for being a key advocate for minority groups, and Colin Anderson (Fundraiser of the Year), Palmerston North and formerly Dannevirke, who raised over $17,000 cycling for CanTeen.

This year, kiwis will again be given a chance to vote for the TSB Bank People's Choice Award.

Once nominations close on June 14, regional award ceremonies will take place in August, followed by the national awards ceremony in September.

The awards will be supported by major sponsors TSB Bank, along with NZME.'s the New Zealand Herald, Hawke's Bay Today and radio station The Hits. For the first time, Yealands Wines is an official event partner.

"Last year's awards were an incredible and humbling experience," TSB Bank chief executive Kevin Murphy said.

"We're really looking forward to meeting more of these inspirational New Zealanders in 2015."

Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin said it was a fantastic event.

"I love being part of it. It was good to see so many Hawke's Bay people honoured at a national level last year," Mr Austin said.

How to Enter

Between May 4 and June 14, visit prideofnzawards.co.nz and complete a nomination form for one of the six categories.

New Zealanders of any age are eligible to be nominated, with no age restriction. The awards can also be found on Facebook - PrideOfNZAwards - and Twitter - @PrideOfNZ - with people encouraged to tweet using #prideofnz and #prideofnzawards.