Media Release, Tuesday 1 November

Neighbourhood Support Rotorua Scoops Top Award

Neighbourhood Support Rotorua has won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Spirit of Rotorua Awards.

The Awards were announced and presented last night at a function at the Rotorua District Council Chambers.

For winning the Supreme Award, Neighbourhood Support Rotorua received a framed certificate, a trophy and $1,500 prize money. Neighbourhood Support Rotorua now has the opportunity to represent the district at the 2011 TrustPower National Community Awards, which are being held in Ashburton District in March 2012.

In total, TrustPower has given away over $5,000 to various community groups through the night’s Awards.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Suzi Luff says Neighbourhood Support Rotorua knows that to have a safer community, the community needs to be responsible for creating it.

“Neighbourhood Support Rotorua empowers the whole community through its establishment of small neighbourhood support groups for streets and businesses. These small networks encourage interaction between neighbours, who then keep each other safe.

With its main aim of promoting crime prevention, for residents to visitors to local businesses, Neighbourhood Support Rotorua has grown to an incredible 527 groups, encompassing 8000 homes and about 500 motels and businesses. And it’s known that 80% of crime committed in Rotorua is happening in non-Neighbourhood Support areas.

Along with daily patrols, this group has built up a database of 500 contacts that are alerted via email, providing real time updates for these businesses.

And lastly, working closely with the Red Cross, Civil Defence, the district council and the Police, Neighbourhood Support Rotorua has helped to create, maintain and train a working network of volunteers ready and willing to give their time and knowledge should a natural disaster strike the region.

Neighbourhood Support Rotorua must be commended for its hard slog and dedication towards making Rotorua a safer place for residents, businesses and tourists,” says Miss Luff.

Forty six nominations were received for this year’s TrustPower Spirit of Rotorua Awards.

Other winners at the night’s TrustPower Spirit of Rotorua Awards were:

Heritage and Environment

Winner: Keep Rotorua Beautiful

Runner-Up: Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust

Commendation: Kaharoa Kokako Trust

Health and Well Being

Winner: Plunket Rotorua Committee

Runner-Up: Western Heights Community Association

Commendation: St John Friends of the Emergency Department

Arts and Culture

Winner: Rotorua Little Theatre Society

Runner-Up: Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust

Sport and Leisure

Winner: Netball Rotorua

Runner- up: Special Olympics Rotorua

Education and Child/Youth Development

Winner: The Rotaract Club of Rotorua

Runner-Up: Rotorua Parents Centre

Commendation: Glenholme School Tutors

Supreme Winner

Neighbourhood Support Rotorua

ENDS

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