Two Hastings people have been recognised for their contribution to the local community as the first Hastings Alive Ambassadors.
Te Rangi Huata, the face behind many Hastings community events and Sonya Clark, a student and national award-winning poet, were announced as September's Hastings Alive Ambassadors.
Mr Huata and Ms Clark were to
accept the honour at the Hastings performance platform today where they were also to draw the second "Big Spender" Prize.
The Hastings Alive Ambassador initiative was set up by Hastings City Marketing to celebrate and acknowledge Hastings people who were unsung heroes or who had achieved notable success.
Hastings City marketing manager Natalie Stevens said the ambassadors were people at the heart of the community.
"They're either putting us on the map in a positive way or show an amazing community spirit," Ms Stevens said.
Te Rangi Huata is the driving force behind the Fiesta of Lights, Hawke's Bay Waitangi Day celebrations, the Fishhook Festival and notably founded the Matariki winter solstice festival. Ms Stevens said he had a special gift for bringing people together, bridging relationships between cultures through celebrations, fireworks and a love of people of the region.
Sonya Clark, September's youth ambassador, is a Year 13 student at Karamu High School. She is a member of the Hastings District Youth Council and recently won the New Zealand Post National Schools Poetry Awards 2008 Best Lyric category with a very quirky poem called Mrs Potts.
Wellington musician Samuel Flynn Scott, from bands The Phoenix Foundation and Fly My Pretties, then recorded a song from the winning poem. Ms Clark was also a talented artist.
Ms Stevens said the response to the ambassador concept had been terrific.
"We kept hearing about people doing remarkable things so we decided to acknowledge their efforts under our Hastings Alive campaign," she said.
Nominations were judged against criteria such as contribution to the community, organising events or bringing the community together, representing Hastings on a national or international scale, or acts of heroism such as saving the lives of humans or animals.
The promotion would run until Christmas. People can nominate through the More FM website or email events@hastingscitymarketing.
* For more information contact Hastings City Marketing 06 8769093.
