Napier volunteers win Civic Awards
A former mayor, a former school principal and committed environmentalists are the recipients of this year’s Napier Citizens’ Civic Awards.
The awards, which took place before an audience comprising family, friends, and close work and former colleagues at the Napier Conference Centre last week, were hosted by Acting Napier Mayor Faye White.
Barbara Arnott, QSO, received the Freedom of the City, while Robert (Bob) Morrison, and Tom and Margie McGuire accepted Citizens’ Civic Awards.
Barbara Arnott was Napier Mayor between 2001 and 2013, following two terms as a councillor, and played a vital role in the establishment of the Rotary Pathways Trust.
Her current roles include chairing the Historic Places Trust, being a sitting member of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) and Hawke’s Bay Power Consumers Trust, and patron of the Napier Sailing Club.
The McGuires have been part of, and in some cases, founding members of many revitalising and new projects, including Operation Pa¯ tiki, ongoing environmental education programmes, and the establishment of Te
Ko¯ hanga Reo o Whakatu¯ in the early 1980s.
Among Margie McGuire’s voluntary roles, both former and current, are chairing the Operation Pa¯ tiki Charitable Trust, establishing and organising the annual Love Your Marae Day, regular speaking roles at EIT’s Environmental Education Forum, and being a member of Napier Port’s Manua Whenua steering committee.
Tom McGuire is also an Operation Pa¯ tiki trustee and currently its project manager.
Bob Morrison is a former Arthur Miller School principal, where he coached young hockey players, inspired and challenged children at Camp Kaitawa and connected with every family that walked through the school gate.
Currently Bob is Rotary Pathways Trust secretary, Taradale Residents’ Association president, and continues his long service to the Camp Kaitawa Trust.