Humble community heroes step into the spotlight

Published: 6 September 2024

Volunteers who give their time, skill and energy to help others have been recognised for their commitment, passion and dedication to their community.

The recipients of eight Civic Awards and a Meritorious Award were acknowledged at the Napier Civic Awards at the Napier War Memorial Centre tonight.

Mayor Kirsten Wise, who led proceedings, believes the annual event is an important way to honour some of the people who make Napier a resilient, engaged and vibrant community.

“The Civic Awards are our opportunity to pay tribute to individuals who give so much and ask so little in return,” says Mayor Wise. “So often, these are people who fly under the radar, who don’t want praise, who believe in working hard for the good of everyone in their community. Through these awards we can give them the appreciation they deserve, as they stand as rolemodels for the rest of us, and those younger generations stepping up to take on volunteer and community-focused roles.”

“There are countless people who go above and beyond for Napier, for our people and the places that make us special, but these recipients are truly inspiring. They share what they know, support others and lead by example without expecting anything in return.”

This year’s Civic Award recipients are Bruce Carnegie, Christine Batista, Colin Francis (posthumous), Dave Halliday, Dorothy and Denis Pilkington, Mike Bishop, Rachael Brownrigg and Sonya Aifai. Historian Patrick Parsons was recognised with The Meritorious Award.

Nominations for the Civic Awards are called for in the first few months of every year, to recognise outstanding volunteers from the Napier community.

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