​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Contact

Search

2024 Mayoral Community Awards recipients

The 2024 Mayoral Community Award winners had a moment in the spotlight during a ceremony at Waiora House on Friday 29 November 2024.

The work of the recipients included the administration of sports clubs and tournaments, volunteering on festival committees, environmental conservation, advocating for small communities, picking up litter, organising markets, animal welfare, and CPR training.

Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas described the recipients as “the heartbeat of our community”.

“The Taupō District is such a great place to live and visit, and it’s these sorts of people who make sure that is the case,” he says.

“Every year I’m blown away by the nominations that come in and we often see the same people nominated several times, which shows just how valued they are by their peers.

“It was wonderful to hold a ceremony celebrating these dedicated people and i thank everyone who took the time to nominate them.”

Congratulations to all the 2024 award recipients

  • Greg Willars: For 17 years of involvement with the Taupō AFC football club, including as a player, committee member, secretary, and treasurer. He is also one of five committee members for the Taupō McCartney Invitational Football Tournament.
  • John McCartney: For two decades of dedication, passion, and commitment to fostering sportsmanship and community through the Taupō McCartney Invitational football tournament. In it's 20th anniversary year, the tournament hosted 126 teams, 1300 players, 300 coaches and managers, and countless supporters and parents. He has also supported the football club in a range of different coaching, management, and governance roles.
  • Megan van Marion: While employed by the Mangakino Central Charitable Trust, Megan wears many hats and goes above and beyond her paid hours for the community. She is the coordinator of the Mangakino Trading Post which houses the Community Art and Craft Gallery, the local postie, a volunteer on the Mangakino Festival Committee, and a community champion of the Mangakino Emergency Management Crew.
  • Andrew Lilburn: For dedication to the Taupō District community through his involvement in numerous community initiatives and projects. His tireless efforts in promoting local development, environmental conservation, and educational programs have significantly contributed to the well-being of the community.
  • Steve Currie: A member of Tri Sport Taupō since it began almost 40 years ago, Steve has been club president several times, currently in the third of his current stint. Steve leads by example; not only does he prepare all the course maps and race briefing notes, he also comes along on a club night early to set up and then rides the bike course as 'tail end Charlie' to ensure everyone is safe and sound.
  • Eric Wilson: For being selflessly involved with the community of Tūrangi ever since his days as Headmaster of the College, contributing to many aspects of the town's life. Also for serving on environment groups in the Taupō region, and in particular for being instrumental in establishing the environment group, Advocates for the Tongariro River, serving as dedicated secretary and treasurer, with many other rolls, over the 20-odd years of its existence.
  • Stephen Sanderson: Chairman of the Whareroa Village Residents Association for 22 years, Stephen is the brain behind most work done there. He was behind getting the transfer station built and actively monitors it, and works hard to keep Whareroa clean and attractive. He works closely with everyone in the community and with his drive and enthusiasm Whareroa is a unique, happy village.
  • Tidy Taupō members Erana King and Jenni Clarke: For their efforts in picking up litter and keeping Taupō beautiful.They are passionate about keeping our environment clean and regularly pick up many kilograms of litter from all over Taupō.
  • Carol Harwood: For heading and managing the Tūrangi Saturday Markets. She also does the annual Easter and Labour Weekend car-boot stalls which draw large crowds into the town, and recently organised a successful Kids’ Market. She led a town centre clean-up and cares for injured birds.
  • Stacy Lewis: For her work as Animal Care Tūrangi centre manager. Animal Care is Tūrangi's only independently run animal shelter. It is 100 percent not-for-profit, and cares for lost and abandoned cats and dogs. During the last 11 years, Stacy has been a valuable asset to the community, dedicating her time, expertise, and compassion to the welfare and adoption of cats and dogs in Tūrangi and the Southern Lake area.
  • Hato Hone St John Mangakino volunteer community educators: For delivering the 3 Steps for Life programme. This is a free awareness session that gives attendees lifesaving skills and the confidence to help if someone has a cardiac arrest in the community. People learn how to take action by calling 111, how to start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). The Mangakino community educators are a team of seven volunteers who have taught life-saving skills to 470 people since 2022.

Share this page

Sharing...