Kainga Aroha wins top award
Kainga Aroha Society Incorporated won the 2018 Supreme Award at last night's Trustpower Community Awards.
Voluntary groups from Waipa¯ and Taupo¯ gathered with representatives from Trustpower, Waipa¯ District Council, Taupo¯ District Council and the community at Sir Don Rowlands Event Centre in Kara¯piro to hear how 16 groups and two young people are making an impact in their community.
It's the first time Taupo¯ and Waipa¯ have celebrated together at a single awards function and the venue location will alternate between the two regions each year.
Trustpower community and communications advisor Ashleigh Cleaver says Kainga Aroha Society was a top choice due to its abundance of services delivered with a smile.
“Kainga Aroha Society Incorporated provides a place for people to go during hardships and provides services such as family support, counselling, budget advice and more to get people on their feet again.”
“The group also runs a fiveday summer camp which sees 30-50 children participating in many activities including kayaking, swimming, bush walks, hiking to name a few, giving parents some respite and the children an opportunity to socialise and develop these skills.”
The society received a framed certificate, a trophy, and $2000 prize money.
The group will go on to represent Waipa¯ at the 2018 Trustpower National Community Awards when volunteers from around New Zealand gather in Tauranga next March.
The Waipa¯ winner of the Youth Community Spirit award went to Nu'umoe Duffy, head girl at Cambridge High School.
Nu'umoe volunteers at the Salvation Army op shop, plays music for dementia unit residents and is a part of Plastic Bag Free Cambridge,
She is a member of Cambridge High School Leos club which fundraises money to donate to local causes like New Lives Animal Rescue and the Cambridge Tree Trust.
Nu' umoe is a peer support leader/tutor and mentor to students at her school and Leamington Primary school. She also coaches netball and volleyball teams at Cambridge High School.
Nu' umoe won $750, a trophy and a certificate
■ Full list of winners at last night's awards:
Youth Community Spirit
Finalists — Michaela Pointon, Tessa Winter, Fergus Byett.
Taupo¯ winner: Kyla AllenJennings.
Waipa¯ winner: Nu'umoe
Duffy.
Trustpower Community Awards Finalists
Te Awamutu Community Health Transport, Centre Stage Taupo¯, Te Awamutu Rugby Referees Association, Cambridge Community Gardens, Easterfest NZ, Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust (Taupo¯ ).
Trustpower Community Awards Recipients
Turangi Rangatahi Hub, Growing Through Grief Taupo¯, Emergency Accommodation Taupo¯, Taupo¯ Pathways for Youth Employment Trust, AOK (Act of Kindness), Music Moves Me Trust, Special Olympics Te Awamutu, Loving Arms.
Taupo¯ supreme winner:
Lake Taupo¯ Hospice Trust.
Waipa¯ supreme winner:
Kainga Aroha Society Incorporated.