Editorial: Thanking those gems in community

Kelly Makiha.

They say money makes the world go round.

Most of us know that's not true. Of course, it's people. And in Rotorua we sure have our fair share of gems - precious gems that are worth much more than money.

Those gems have been in the news during the past week.

Firstly on Wednesday night last week, seven groups of gems and five individual gems were named winners of the Trustpower Rotorua Lakes Community Awards.

Taking out the supreme gong of the Trustpower awards was the well-established Te Waiariki Purea Trust, which has been walking the talk for several years in Rotorua helping our young people.

Then there were five people - Garry Adlam, Noel Hyde, Jill Walker, Ann Clausen and Kishor Patel - who were acknowledged as part of the Rotorua Lakes Council Community Awards for everything they do in the city.

Today's newspaper highlights the work of five locals who are today named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list - Hariata Paikea, Tony Pope, Tristan Brebner, Jaap van Dorsser and Tina Porou.

There's a trend with the stories about these people - they are all genuinely shocked they have made the cut and are humble in their acceptance of the acknowledgments.

Here's what some of them said upon finding out the news of their honours:

"My first thought was someone had made a mistake."

"You don't do these things just to be recognised, it's just you feel it's a good thing to do so you do it."

"Surely there's somebody out there doing something much more deserving."

"Without sounding cliche, I am quite humbled but very excited by the honour, it was certainly unexpected."

These people don't do this work for photographs in the newspaper. But it's great we all celebrate them and take time to say thanks for being gems.