Group represents Rotorua at community awards

Leanne White-Haverkamp, left, and Erin Thompson-Pou from FlavAzum Health and Fitness Rotorua with TrustPower's Graeme Purchase.

Rotorua's FlavAzum Health and Fitness will go head-to-head with the country's best voluntary groups and organisations at the Trustpower National Community Awards in Invercargill this weekend.

The group is representing the Rotorua district at the awards - an honour it won after being named supreme winner at the Spirit of Rotorua Community Awards late last year. The Taupo Model Railway Club Inc will represent Taupo.

Joining them will be representatives from 24 other voluntary groups or organisations from around the country.

FlavAzum will give an eight-minute presentation on what the group has achieved and why it deserves the national title. It will be judged on the presentation and a 1000-word summary of the organisation.

Trustpower community relations representative Jess Somerville said FlavAzum had put together a fantastic presentation.

"This band of volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes for a long time to build up a series of events that encourage healthy lifestyles for whanau," she said.

"They are achieving fantastic results and the Rotorua community should be really proud of what FlavAzum Health and Fitness have accomplished. They will make wonderful ambassadors for your community at the Trustpower National Community Awards."

The Taupo Model Railway Club was described as a band of volunteers who had been working hard behind the scenes for a long time to build up the Taupo Hobby Expo to its current status.

The national winner will take home $2500, a certificate, trophy and a $500 voucher from Exult, a specialist training provider for the community sector. The runner-up will receive $1500, a framed certificate and a $200 voucher.

Entries are now open for the newly titled 2014 Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards. Entries close April 24.