Local heroes honoured at awards night

Hai Tong Too passed away last week.

Community stalwarts were lauded with medals at the KiwiBank Local Heroes Awards in Napier last night.

The four winners of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Local Heroes category were announced at Napier's Art Deco Masonic Hotel.

Napier Deputy Mayor Faye White presented the sixth annual awards, saying: "Many of these medal winners are unsung heroes whose selflessness has had a profound effect on the lives of so many. Those acts of charity, optimism and commitment are what hold a community together and, as a community, we must stand alongside one another and give thanks for their efforts."

Among last night's recipients was Hai Tong Too, whose award was accepted by two of his children, Daniel and Leanne Too. Mr Too passed away suddenly of natural causes aged 71 last week, after advocating for minority groups in Hawke's Bay, particularly the Chinese community, for almost 40 years.

"I know he would have been humbled to be here," Daniel Too said last night. "He didn't want glory or the spotlight. He wasn't doing it for recognition."

Also recognised were Hawke's Bay SPCA volunteer Sharon Faulknor of Napier, who has served the SPCA for nearly 10 years, and the Reverend Matiu Eru, who is kaumatua to Ngati Kahungunu, the New Zealand Police, Eastern Institute of Technology and the Hawke's Bay District Health Board, and has worked tirelessly to integrate Maori language into the Hawke's Bay community. The fourth winner was Taupo's Peter Smith, who is the owner of Starlight Cinema.

"What I do is natural," Mr Eru said. "Because I'm there for my people. Wherever there's a need, I'm there for them."

A total of 201 medals will be presented throughout the country during the next few weeks, with one national Local Heroes winner to be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards next February.