Wakatipu Wildlife Trust win 2018 Queestown Supreme Award

The Wakatipu Wildlife Trust has won the 2018 Queenstown Supreme Award at the greatest annual celebration of volunteers, the Trustpower Community Awards.

Voluntary groups from Central Otago and Queenstown gathered with representatives from Trustpower, Central Otago and Queenstown District Council and the community at the Alexandra Memorial Hall to hear how 10 groups and two young people are making an impact in their community.

Trustpower Community and Communications Advisor Ashleigh Cleaver says the Wakatipu Wildlife Trust were a top vote due to the huge impact they are making on our natural environment.

“Over 160 volunteers service and maintain 650+ traps in areas ranging from backyards, to popular public walking tracks, to high altitude nature reserves, and these will be increasing” says Ms Cleaver.

“Due to this groups amazing work, native wild and birdlife has been saved from more than 1300 predators. They are making the Lake Wakatipu basin a predator-free paradise.”

In attendance for winning the Supreme Award, The Wakatipu Wildlife Trust received a framed certificate, a trophy, and $2,000 prize money.

The group will go on to represent Queenstown at the 2018 Trustpower National Community Awards, when volunteers from 26 regions from around New Zealand gather in Tauranga next March.

It’s the first time Queenstown and Central Otago have celebrated together at a single awards function and the venue location will alternate between the two regions each year.

Other winners at tonight’s Trustpower Community Awards for Central Otago and Queenstown were:

Youth Community Spirit
Finalist – Erica Ayers
Finalist – Macy Mcleod
Finalist- Chester Rosie
Finalist – Alex Darling

Winner Central Otago – Hannah Heyward
Winner Queenstown – Bella Fraser

Trustpower Community Awards Finalists
Arrowtown Scouts Group
Food for Love
Central Otago Riding for the Disabled
Happiness House Trust
Cromwell Newcomers Network
Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust
Wanaka Search and Rescue Inc

Trustpower Community Awards Recipients
Kahu Youth Trust
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade
Buddy Programme Central Otago
Otago Community Hospice
Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade
Wakatipu Victim Support LGC Inc
Buddy Programme Wanaka
Sustainable Queenstown Charitable Trust

Supreme Winner – Central Otago
St John Central Otago Shuttle Service

Supreme Winner – Queenstown
Wakatipu Wildlife Trust

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