Pride of NZ: Local heroes hailed at awards night

Shaun Rankin (left) and Jim Edwards at the Pride of NZ national awards, at Auckland Museum last night. Photo / Greg Bowker

Shaun Rankin was walking the streets of Maraenui, Napier, when he decided to give the local kids something he didn't have growing up in poverty - an opportunity.

Mr Rankin offers free boxing classes for children in one of Hawke's Bay's poorest areas, an initiative that earned him a Community Spirit Award at the national Pride of New Zealand awards last night.

The accolade comes after he won the regional award in August.

Mr Rankin and other unsung Kiwi heroes were honoured for their bravery, selflessness and kindness at a lavish award ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum last night. Fellow Hawke's Bay hero Jim Edwards took home the Lifetime Achievement award, for dedicating his life to helping others.

For a decade, the 70-year-old from Hastings and his wife Marie survived on $125 a week while he volunteered to assist others and built a waka to be used as part of the therapy he provided.

Since 1994, Mr Edwards has helped rehabilitate accident victims with the 40-seater waka.

"I help find out what fits them - in their minds or bodies."

Being able to converse (korero) in English and te reo and the variety of everyday skills associated with the waka - maintenance, paddling, steering, haka, chants, greeting strangers, photography - all help with Mr Edwards' rehabilitation process.

"No matter how incapacitated you think you are, there's always a way around it. There's no such thing as 'can't'."

Mr Edwards started the cause when two local freezing works closed and he helped the unemployed staff to find work as carvers and weavers.

He now runs the Nga Tukemata O Kahungunu Vocational Charitable Trust, a service that teaches disabled adults to use their hands, as well as their minds, on land and water.

The overall national award winners were selected from regional winners by a panel of esteemed judges.

The judges included NZME chief executive officer Jane Hastings, TSB Bank chief executive officer Kevin Murphy, Sir Peter Leitch, former Silver Fern Bernice Mene and former Tall Black Dillon Boucher.

Sir Peter said it was great to honour ordinary people who were heroes by contributing to their communities.

"I salute them all," he said.

"They are making the difference in our country.

"They're people that just do little things all the time - even just running a sausage sizzle for a charity."

The national award winners:

* Bravery & Heroism: Dudley Andrews, Kaitia.
* Community Spirit: Shaun Rankin, Napier.
* Emergency Services: Maggie Houston, Hari Hari.
* Environment: Allan Anderson, Wanganui.
* Fundraiser of the Year: Robbie Ritchie, Auckland.
* Lifetime Achievement: Jim Edwards, Hastings.
* TSB Bank People's Choice Award: Ryan and Keri Topperwien, Whakatane.