Editorial: Blazing a trail for us to follow

Mahia environmentalist Kathleen Mato was recognised for her work during the past four years in protecting and improving the water quality in the Whangawehi catchment area. Photo / Paul Taylor

From what I've seen, heroes are usually wallflowers.

It's why the word "reluctant" is typically inserted before "hero".

So, too, pillars of the community, who are invariably toilers of the very silent variety.

For either, the spectre of media coverage is a discomforting one. From my time as a reporter I saw (and continue to see) this time and time again, as those who do great deeds shun the limelight.

Yet on Wednesday night's Pride of New Zealand Awards the wallflowers had no choice but to have their names in lights.

The awards were about celebrating Kiwis who go beyond the call and enrich the lives of others.

Two names in particular resonated with us. Wade Kelly and Kathleen Mato triumphed in the bravery and environment categories respectively.

Mr Kelly, formerly of Hastings, saved four people in big surf at Waimarama Beach last year, while Mahia environmentalist Kathleen Mato was recognised for her work during the past four years in protecting and improving the water quality in the Whangawehi catchment area.

Three other finalists represented the region, including the Swannell family who were nominated for their mobile soup kitchen, Napier's Hai Tong Too, as an advocate for minority groups and former Dannevirke man Colin Anderson who raised over $17,000 cycling for CanTeen.

A downside with showcasing the Herculean efforts of these people, is that this writer, and I imagine others, by way of comparison feel like we should be contributing more.

But I'm thinking that's the real gift these people impart - they blaze a trail for the rest of us to follow.