Philippa has volunteered as the coordinator of the NZ office (in Palmerston North) of New Hope Christian Ministries for over 10 years. This is an organisation that sponsors hundreds of children and supports communities in third world countries. Philippa is currently in Johannesburg for six months volunteering in an orphanage for abandoned babies. She also helps in her community by giving away free weekends at her bach for those needing a break, helping the elderly with their groceries and helping new citizens with their English.

Shane and Liz are the duty team leaders for the Palmerston North Rescue Emergency Support Team. They have been part of this volunteer Technical rescue/Civil defence response agency for over 10 years and have demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment, energy and initiative to the development of the team and the availability of a highly capable technical rescue support crew in the area. Their expert skills and qualification along with their experience and length of service makes them vital member of the team. Last year alone they have committed over 600 hours of unpaid service. They have been involved in events such as the Queensland floods and Christchurch earthquakes.

Aaron has been awarded a Local Heroes medal for his dedication to Rugby and his community.  Aaron fought testicular cancer in 2009 and has since gone on to become the IRB Junior Player of the Year and to play for the All Blacks. Despite his many successes Aaron has remained committed to Manawatu Rugby even with the lure of bigger and better contracts in other unions. He has also put a lot of time and effort in to community charity events to raise funds for others fighting cancer and to raise awareness of the disease.

Katarena lives in Kuku and continually works tirelessly in her community. This includes looking after visitors who stay weekly at her local Marae, working as a student support worker for her Iwi Trust, helping with fundraisers in the community and at her daughter’s school and just generally helping anyone who needs a hand without asking for anything in return. She is one of those woman who would give you her shirt of her back and thinks of everyone else before herself.