LISTEN: Trustpower Awards Taupo 2016

Paul from The Hits was at the Awards night, and spoke with the Supreme winner, the Mayor and the Organisers...

----------------------

Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc won the Supreme Award at the 2016 Trustpower Taupō District Community Awards.

The Awards were announced and presented tonight, Monday 5 September, at a function at the Great Lake Centre, Taupō. 

For winning the Supreme Award, Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc received a framed certificate, a trophy and $1,500 prize money. Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc now has the opportunity to represent the district at the 2016 Trustpower National Community Awards, which are being held in Rotorua in March 2017.  

Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc (and all category winners) also received a $500 radio advertising voucher from local Trustpower Community Awards supporter The Hits, The Radio Network Taupō. This is exclusive to the Taupō District and it will allow category winners and the Supreme Winner to profile their groups to the community through the radio station.

In total, Trustpower has presented over $5,000 to various community groups through the night’s Awards, the seventeenth for the district.

Trustpower Community Relations Representative Kathlene Cook says Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc are saving lives, they are changing lives and they are creating a brand new whānau to be a part of.

“Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc is a waka ama group with a difference. They aren’t just about getting out on the beautiful lakes of Taupō. They are about pulling in our young people who are on the outskirts – the ones who are having a bit of a hard time of it and who need someone to step in and show them a new way that things can be.

Sport, family and respect are all tangled and pulled together by these incredible volunteers. They are using physical activity and a sense of team to instil pride and self-esteem in our youth. They are reaching out all over the district to make sure there are opportunities for many who need them.

The hard work put into trainings and running regattas is just one part of what these volunteers are giving. They are giving back lives to some of our new people and they so deserve to be recognised for all the difference they are making in such positive ways,” says Kathlene.

Forty six entries were received for this year’s Trustpower Taupō District Community Awards.

Other winners at the night’s Trustpower Taupō District Community Awards were:

Heritage and Environment
Runner Up: Project Tongariro
Winner: Omori Kuratau Pest Management Group

Health and Well Being
Commendation: Taupo Community Men's Shed Trust
Commendation: Taupo Parents Centre
Runner Up: Taupo Community Food Bank, Awhina Society
Winner: Turangi Angels Netball Inc

Arts and Culture
Runner Up: Acacia Bay Residents Association
Winner: Centre Stage

Sport and Leisure
Runner Up: Tri Sport Taupo
Winner: Taupo Bike Park

Education and Child/Youth Development
Runner Up: 1st Taupo Scouts Group
Winner: Growing Through Grief Taupo

Special Commendation
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge

Supreme Winner
Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc

Youth Community Spirit
Winner: Curtis Painter
Runner Up: Javan Rose