Finalists named for the UK New Zealander of the Year 2012

Media release – January 27, 2012

Finalists named for the UK New Zealander of the Year 2012

Finalists for the prestigious UK New Zealander of the Year Award 2012 have been announced in London.

They are Kent Gardener, Bronwen Horton and Paul Kendrick, who all helped raise funds for the Canterbury earthquake appeal.

Gardener made a big contribution in the Step Up for Christchurch effort; Horton contributed to Canterbury earthquake fundraising and also founded the New Zealand Business Women's Network in the UK in 2009; while Kendrick also contributed towards the Canterbury Earthquake fundraising.

All three were recognised for the involvement and contribution that they made to enhancing New Zealand’s profile in the UK over the last year.

The award, established by the New Zealand Society in 1999, will be presented to the winner at the society’s annual Waitangi Day Charity Dinner at Plaisterers’ Hall in London on February 10.

The tragic consequences of the Canterbury earthquake and the continuing aftershocks resulted in an unprecedented response from the New Zealand community in the UK, society president John Greager said today.

``This is reflected in a number of excellent nominations we received for the 2012 award, and the finalists chosen for the award.”

Previous winners have included: Terry Smith, chairman of Sir Keith Park’s memorial campaign and chief executive of Fundsmith; Anna Hansen, chef and founder of The Modern Pantry restaurant in London; Esther Jessop, founder of Ngati Ranana, the London Maori cultural group; New Zealand war memorial architect, Jon Rennie; Susan and Tom Glynn, New Zealand restaurateurs in London; equestrian champion Mark Todd; golfer Michael Campbell; former secretary general of the Commonwealth Don McKinnon; and chef Peter Gordon.

As part of the NZ Society’s official annual celebrations, a Waitangi Day evening service will be held at St Lawrence Jewry in London February 9.

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