King crowned NZer of year
A determination to shine a light on the impacts of mental health has helped crown mental health advocate Mike King New Zealander of the Year.
King received the award last night from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. He was also presented with the Kiwibank kaitaka huaki clock, Pouhine, by last year’s winner Kristine Bartlett and 2014 winner Dr Lance O’Sullivan.
Drawing from his own personal experience, King helped bring to public attention concerns around depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide.
Chief Judge Cameron Bennett said King was a ‘‘wonderfully complex and compelling Kiwi’’.
‘‘His passion and total commitment challenges us to think again about how we address some of the most serious social issues of our time.
‘‘Mike’s in your face, brutally honest and hugely funny. He doesn’t back down. It’s that courage and resolve that makes him so relatable to at-risk rangitahi that others can’t reach. Mike King is a great New Zealander of the Year.’’
Christchurch’s Kendall Flutey was also awarded the University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year.
Flutey is the creator and co-founder of Banqer, an online educational programme that helps young New Zealanders develop financial literacy skills.
Teachers use Banqer to engage and educate their students about how to use money better. Using an online fictitious banking system, each student is given their own bank account where they can transfer money, set up automatic payments and track their spending.
Banqer is now used by more than 300 primary and intermediate classrooms nationwide.