At just 27 years old, Jonny has built NZ’s largest music school in just 2.5 years – the Goodtime Music Academy. He started his business with just 30 drum students and has grown this to now have 35 staff and 700 students taking lessons for a variety of instruments. He has set up a number of amazing projects within the academy – two mobile teaching units which travel to schools to teach children, music shows, a Saturday programme where senior students give underprivileged children lessons for only $2.50, writing music resources and running a variety of events including classes with international artists, talent quests and student trips. Jonny’s vision is to provide affordable music tuition to everyone; he has systems in place so that every child can have the option of lessons no matter what their socio economic position may be. He has created 22 new jobs and with the addition of a second location will create another 12-15 this coming year. Thanks to Jonny hundreds of children are learning positive life skills and are increasing confidence through music.

Ratilal immigrated to New Zealand in the late 1970s and has worked in a wide variety of roles amidst Wellington’s Indian community for 33 years. He is the immediate past president and still very active member of the New Zealand Indian Central Association. Ratilal has been involved with establishing a 24 hour telephone lifeline service for Indian people, which will help provide much-needed urgent assistance for people in at-risk situations. Ratilal is passionate about a number of safety issues for Indian people in New Zealand and law and order issues in general and continues to work towards outcomes for these.

Chris is a dedicated, selfless, hardworking and caring family man. With his partner Aroha, he has raised his 22-year old daughter Santana who is mentally and physically disabled and needs 24 hours care. Through Santana he has become involved with the IHC giving back to other families in similar situations. Recently he has had to provide even more family support when Aroha was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a tennis ball resulting in a very long but successful operation in August last year. While caring for Santana and Aroha, Chris has worked for the Laundry department at Wellington hospital for 20 years, working 7 days a week and being a much valued member of the team. Chris always puts himself last and everyone else first, doing whatever he can to support and love all those he comes in contact with.

Lisa has been helping Wellington youth for over 7 years, working as the Education Manager at the YMCA but her commitment to helping others goes far beyond what her job asks of her, being available at any hour of the day for texts or phone calls requesting help. Lisa runs an education centre for 40 at risk youths, teaching them new skills and allowing them to experience new things. Lisa gives these people a chance when others won’t and she manages them in a way that is life changing with many going on to gain employment or to seek further study opportunities.

At just 22, Benjamin tirelessly serves as the Manager of The Free Store Wellington; a volunteer operated not-for-profit organisation that works in the heart of Wellington city to rescue and redistribute surplus food to members of the immediate community that are in need. Over the last year Benjamin has led the team that successfully implemented the initiative; he manages the operation of the store on a daily basis, and also sits on the Board of Trustees so as to contribute to future advancement of the initiative’s success. In all these roles, Benjamin has been an unpaid volunteer. It is evident that Benjamin just wants to serve and help others, a rare and commendable trait for someone of his age.

In 2010, while still at school in Wellington, Nicola became aware that a young intellectually disabled person was unable to be part of regular dance lessons. This lead her to establish the JDK dance crew which catered for intellectually disabled dancers whom she taught and mentored to learn the Hip Hop style of dance. She originally started teaching in a school hall and ran weekly sessions for 4 dancers, which has now grown to have a current core of 10 dancers. Nicola has had to develop ways to teach those with learning difficulties and is always looking for material and new and improved ways to teach her dancers.Nicola also sought opportunities for JDK to perform at community events and arranged holiday workshop sessions to provide the extra training needed to complete the performances. Nicola’s classes have given members an identity that they are proud of, and an opportunity to socialise and succeed as a group. Nicola’s initiatives in establishing JDK has made a huge difference in the lives of all those who take part.

Braedyn has been the dance instructor and role model for the JDK dance crew, a Wellington group of teenagers with a passion for dance, all of whom have an intellectual disability, since April 2011. As a Year 13 student Braedyn dedicates a lot of his limited spare time to teaching the dancers, developing new and improved ways to teach them and taking them to perform at community events. Braedyn demonstrates a genuine care and commitment to the group, unselfishly giving himself and his time to build their confidence and provide them with an opportunity to excel and do something that they love. Braedyn takes the time to make sure they all feel special as an individual.

Murray and Tim have been the driving force behind the Batterie 100 – a performance group of up to 75 children from low decile Wellington and Porirua Schools. Through Murray’s vision and commitment and Tim’s dedication to delivering on a demanding teaching, composing and rehearsal schedule the Batterie 100 has not only proved immensely popular with audiences, it has also served as a catalyst for greater local community cohesion and pride. Batterie 100 has shown what a community can achieve, regardless of perceived or real disadvantage and has also proved what people from quite different cultures and socio-economic background can do together. A wonderful initiative that is benefiting all those involved.

Rae is currently employed as a coordinator of the Kapiti Women’s Centre and has worked there for over 9 years. Her role within the organisation is a paid position but she goes far beyond what she is paid for, providing service and attending meetings frequently after hours and during the weekends. In her capacity as coordinator she has grown the organisation to be a key part of the community network. Under Rae’s management the centre has increased its service provision by 70% alongside maintaining a stable group of volunteers. In addition to this work she has been an integral member of the Events NZ Trust for the past six years, organising the annual Kapiti Women’s Triathlon. She has also volunteered at Voices against violence for the last four years and last year joined the steering group for the Kapiti Women’s refuge to regain its accreditation. For those people whose lives Rae has touched it is her profound belief in their potential and warm encouragement that makes her a standout person in the Kapiti Community.

Des Vincent-Dustow has made a significant contribution to junior and girls football in New Zealand. He has been a volunteer football coach, mentor and spokesperson for eight years. In this time he has coached many junior boys and girls teams, including grade 10-12 streamed teams, girls development squad, federation and representative teams, high performance player academy and girls college first XI. As a spokesman for girls football, he has strived for better facilities, funding, development opportunities, scholarships and tournaments. He gives around 20 hours of volunteer time weekly planning, preparation, researching, training, games, trials and tournaments. His commitment to football has seen a number of his players develop into likely prospects for the 2014 Football World Cup.

Ted has provided years of selfless voluntary service to Mana Community Enterprises Inc (MCE) since it was established in 1996. MCE provides life skills and work based vocational rehabilitation programmes for people with long standing mental health conditions within the Porirua Basin. Ted, as the Chair of 15 years, devotes many hours to run the organisation, and is continually looking at ways to improve. Ted has supported the organisation, its trainees and its staff, in many tangible ways, including fundraising. Without Ted’s constancy of purpose and vision, without his determination and leadership, his dedication, loyalty, excellent chairing skills, governance skills and knowledge the organisation may not have survived.