Glitz and glam
Forget the Hollywood walk of fame.
Katikati has its own starstudded red carpet with vintage cars and topiaries to greet guests at the prestigious Vintage Hollywood Soiree awards ceremony announcing the winners of the 2018 Katikati Waihi Beach Community Awards.
Coromandel MP Scott Simpson, Western Bay mayor Garry Webber, deputy mayor Mike Williams and Community board members were among dignitaries attending.
At Saturday night’s glitzy affair Katikati Open-Air Art won the tourism award in the business excellence categories. HoneyVet won the innovation award and A Friend’s Place at Waihi Beach won the Environment and Community award.
Open-Air Art chairman Steve Graveson said the committee was honoured to receive the award.
“It is really cool to be recognised by the community for what we do and have achieved over the last 28 years. We don’t think of tourism as our main focus, but when I sat down and discussed it with the judge and told her what we do and achieve, you do realise that tourism is a major outcome and result of what we do, and it’s not only for us but also for the whole community.”
HoneyVet is a partnership between Julie Hayes from Katikati-based BeeNZ and Pip Jones, a veterinarian who owns Beach Vets at Waihi Beach.
“With my knowledge and experience in the honey industry and Pip’s in vet care we joined forces to formulate and bring to market a natural, NZ-made pet care product line,” Julie said.
“It was so very special to be recognised by the community for the past three years of work,” Trudy van Snee, manager of A Friend’s Place — social groups for older folk — said.
“Thank you very much to the ‘friends’ who had faith in A Friend’s Place and have supported the programme from the beginning. With all systems in place I believe that it is here to stay.”
All entrants were winners in the eyes of organisers Katch Katikati’s Nicky Austin and Teresa Qualtrough from Waihi Beach Events and Promotions.
“The calibre of entrants was so high and we are over the moon with the way the communities got behind the nominees and voted — over 4000 times!
“The Business Excellence category participants were especially impressive and must be applauded for the effort they put into their entries.”
Town promotions manager Jacqui Knight said she was thrilled with the way Nicky and Teresa had revamped the format of the awards from previous years, from the way the entries were received through to the night itself.
“It was a great way for the communities to celebrate excellence, dress up a little and have an amazing night.”
More than 100 guests and finalists glammed up for the Katikati Waihi Beach Community Awards last Saturday night.
Several Katikati businesses and individuals won awards including talented musician Louie Campbell, winner of the arts award, as voted by the community in the people’s choice category.
The 17-year-old Katikati College student said it was an honour just to have been nominated for the arts award.
“I am so grateful for the community’s support in voting for me. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Dreamers for all their hard work and support.”
Retail business of the year — Katikati Village Butchery owners John and Maree Torry said they were “blown away” by the win.
“We want to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us.”
Dancers and winners of the team of the year award, Daniel and Kirstin Wilks, demonstrated dances from the Gatsby era. Catering on the night was provided by Katikati’s The Honest Plater, and owner Hollie Procter won the hospitality business of the year.
Event co-organiser Nicky Austin said they were pleased with how the night went and the effort everyone went to to make it a success.
“It was a wonderful night of celebration and pride in our joint communities.”
Nicky thanks the Business Excellence award judges Kath Low, Peter McCormick and Brett Soutar for all their hard work.
Katch Katikati’s Jacqui Knight said all of the finalists are so deserving of their recognition — “I am only sorry that there can be only one winner in each category.
“We have so many people who contribute to the community and make Katikati and Waihi Beach the special places that they are.”
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS Tourism Award
Katikati Open-Air Art
Innovative Award
Honey Vet
Environment and Community Award
A Friends Place, Waihi Beach
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS Team of the Year
Daniel and Kirstin Wilks
Coach of the Year
Ayla Morton
Individual of the Year
Tessa Bradley
Best Volunteer Group
Waipuna Hospice Charity Shop Katikati
Best Volunteer Individual
Anne Cunningham
Arts Award
Louie Campbell
Service Business of the Year
Waihi Beach RSA
Retail Business of the Year
Village Butchery, Katikati
Hospitality Business of the Year
The Honest Platter — Katikati