2024 was a tough year for many and it was revealed in December that the economy had experienced its worst six months since 1991. You may wish to say good riddance to 2024 – and who could blame you? But as we prepare to ring in the New Year with family and friends, it’s worth reflecting on the exceptional and inspirational Kiwis who stepped up and helped others or excelled in their chosen fields. There are of course many such Kiwis recognised in today’s Honours List. Among those celebrated include:
- KidsCan founder Dame Julie Chapman, whose organisation helps support 60,000 children at schools and early childhood centres with food, clothing and health items.
- Auckland businessman Sir Ted Manson who, with his extensive commercial success, founded the School Ready Programme, which offers specialised teaching resources for new-entrant classes to enhance children’s social and learning skills. Additionally, he was a trailblazer in implementing in-school counselling and wellbeing services for more than 4500 students.
- Alan Smythe (CNZM), who has put on fundraising events for charitable causes for more than 40 years.
- Deborah Mackenzie, who advocated for decades to improve how the country responds to violence against women and children.
- Melissa Vining (MNZM – whose husband Blair died of bowel cancer after campaigning for better care for other patients – was the driving force behind the Southern Charity Hospital in Invercargill.
- Rangimahora Reddy, the chief executive of Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust, which provides health and wellbeing, housing, welfare, education and recreational services for kaumātua.
All these people have worked towards making New Zealanders’ lives better. Others on today’s list – like Dame Lydia Ko – have represented the country at the highest level and have exhibited values of perseverance, determination and sacrifice that are extremely admirable. There are, of course, many other New Zealanders worthy of accolade. The Herald’s Our Heroes awards recognised a string of everyday Kiwis doing extraordinary things. They included:
- Two experts worried their role reviewing assisted deaths was too limited to detect potential wrongdoing, not hesitating to take their concerns to ministers. Palliative care specialist Dr Jane Greville and ethics expert Dr Dana Wensley were two of three members on the inaugural review committee set up just before the End of Life Choice Act came into force in 2021.
- Wellington lawyer Sonja Cooper, who started working with abuse in care survivors when Jim Bolger was Prime Minister and Jonah Lomu was bowling over Englishmen at the Rugby World Cup. Almost 30 years later, Cooper Legal represents more than 1600 people, is dealing with around 2000 claims, has settled more than 600 of them and has paid out more than $13 million to clients.
- Trevor Meredith and his mate Doug Ahnne had no hesitation when they heard the crew of HMNZS Manawanui calling mayday from their stricken Royal New Zealand Navy ship in October. They knew conditions off Samoa’s Upolu Island, where Manawanui had grounded, were rough and rushed on Ahnne’s 6.4m boat Double Down to help.
