Wellys from Hutt Valley
Hutt Valley dwellers and workers are punching above their weight as finalists in the 2016 Wellingtonian of the Year awards.
Whether you’re looking for a high flying business leader, a rising political star, a pioneering climate scientist, or a Hollywood star in the making, you may as well stick to the Valley.
And that’s not even mentioning the sporting talent among our finalists.
The Hutt Valley finalists in the awards are: David Lyford (Business): Managing director of Naenae’s own Rembrandt. With a lot of the manufacturing now sourced off-shore, David clocks up the air miles making sure every garment is fit to carry the 70-year-old Rembrandt brand.
Prabha Ravi (Education): Director of International Education at YMCA Central and a trained classical Indian dancer/teacher, Ravi has worked tirelessly over 15 years to promote NZ education. She founded Lower Hutt’s Natraj School of Dance.
Chris Bishop (Government): ALower Hutt based National Party list MP who is a qualified lawyer, an award-winning debater and a passionate supporter of the Hutt Valley.
Nancy Bertler (Science and Tech): Associate Professor at the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University and GNS Science, is a pioneer of climate research. Nancy has led 13 expeditions to Antarctica, and manages the New Zealand Ice Core Research Laboratory at GNS Science in Avalon.
Neil Cook (Science and Tech): Co-founded Arotec, a company producing high quality antigens for the diagnostic industry. The Gracefield business has grown over the years to become a valued and trusted supplier worldwide, and has attracted considerable overseas investment.
NickWillis (Sport): The former Lower Hutt boy who made history winning bronze in the 1500 metres at Rio - the event’s oldest ever medallist at 33, and the first New Zealander to win two Olympic medals over the distance.
Julian Dennison (Youth): The Hutt International Boys’ School student made his acting debut in the 2013 feature ‘‘Shopping’’, winning him the NZ Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. But it’s his role opposite acting legend SamNeill in Hunt for the Wilderpeople that has everyone taking notice.
Rachin Ravindra (Youth): Also a Hutt International Boys’ School student, Ravindra is an opening batsman playing for the Wellington under-19 side. Was selected last year to play in at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.