Mistletoe Bay Trust Wins Trustpower National Community Award

22 March 2014

Mistletoe Bay Trust Wins Supreme Award at Trustpower National Community Awards

Mistletoe Bay Trust representing the Marlborough District, has been named Supreme Winner at the prestigious Trustpower National Community Awards.

The Awards were announced tonight (Saturday 22 March) at the 2013 Trustpower National Community Awards Dinner, held at Stadium Southland.

The Runner-Up was the Neurological Foundation Southern Chair of Neurosurgery, representing Dunedin.

Mistletoe Bay Trust was represented at the Trustpower National Community Awards by Simon Heath and Jon Cunliffe, along with Mayor Alistair Sowman and Thelma Sowman.

At the Trustpower National Community Awards Mistletoe Bay Trust gave an eight minute presentation during which they told the participants of how they have established an Eco-Village and Camp Ground that provides the community with a hands-on experience in future proofing the environment.

As Trustpower National Community Award Supreme Winner, Mistletoe Bay Trust receives a trophy, $2,500 prize money, a $500 voucher from Exult, a leading specialist training provider for the not-for-profit sector, a trophy and a framed certificate.

Trustpower Community Relations Coordinator Suzi Luff says the Mistletoe Bay Trust is a great example of a community group taking ownership of an opportunity and developing further.

“Mistletoe Bay Trust drove a vision to highlight Mistletoe Bay’s best features by setting up an eco-village and campground for the benefit of future generations,” says Suzi.

The announcement comes after a full day for the 25 teams participating in the Trustpower National Community Awards. Today, each regional team gave an eight minute presentation on their activities or project in a judging session held at the e Civic Theatre in Invercargill. The teams were judged on that presentation and on a 1,000 word summary about each group provided prior to the event.

“Trustpower is proud to lead the way in recognising, rewarding and celebrating the incredible contribution volunteers make to New Zealand communities.

All 25 groups participating in the Trustpower National Community Awards are shining examples of the amazing work volunteers undertake every day in cities and districts all around New Zealand. These groups have already won recognition in their regions and we are delighted to be able to showcase their efforts nationally at this weekend’s event,” says Suzi.

The Awards were judged by a panel of independent judges including Kerri Tilby-Price from Exult, Louise Lee from Volunteering New Zealand and Malcolm Cameron, QSM and 2012 Senior New Zealander of the Year.

Also involved in the judging process were each of the 25 voluntary groups at the Awards, with the peer voting making up 50% of the final judging score and the independent judging panel’s votes making up the other 50%. The groups were judged on five criteria: Volunteer Input; Use of Resources; Initiative and Creativity; Effectiveness of Activities; and Impact on District.

The judges’ comments about Mistletoe Bay Trust include:
• Wonderful programme and great to see how financially independent you are. Huge community impact and forward thinking in terms of education.
• I’d love to see this go nationwide.
• What can I say? Wow! What variety, what opportunity, I’m sold. This can only go from strength to strength.

For more information about Exult go to www.exult.co.nz

Trustpower National Community Awards - Background

Over the last 20 years the Trustpower Community Awards have grown into one of the country’s largest volunteer-based Awards programmes.

Thanks to the Trustpower Community Awards, thousands of volunteers have been recognised and almost a million dollars has been injected into community groups up and down the country.

The Trustpower Community Awards were initially set up with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council 20 years ago, when Trustpower became a listed company.

Since then, Trustpower has established the Community Awards programme in cities and districts right around the country, as a way of giving something back to its customers and their community.

Today, the Trustpower Community Awards are run in 26 regions around the country, in conjunction with local district or city councils. Any voluntary group or volunteer-based not-for-profit organisation is eligible for the Awards, which recognise past achievements or work undertaken by volunteers over the previous 12 months.

In 2000, Trustpower initiated the National Community Awards, where the Supreme Winners from the regional Awards share ideas and experiences and compete for the title of Trustpower National Community Award Supreme Winner.

National Community Awards
The Trustpower National Community Awards are attended by representatives from each of the organisations judged Supreme Winner at their regional Awards, along with their region’s Mayor and his or her partner.

Each regional team compiles an eight minute presentation on their group or organisation and its achievements as well as providing a 1,000 word written summary about their organisation. The teams themselves score each group, along with a panel of independent judges.

The Trustpower National Community Awards Supreme Winner receives $2,500, a framed certificate and a trophy, with the Runner-Up receiving $1,500 and a framed certificate. The Runner Up and Supreme Winners also receive vouchers from Exult, a leading and specialist training provider for the not-for-profit sector.

Although all organisations participating in the National Community Awards would love to take home the big prize, the Awards are about more than money and titles. They are about giving organisations time out, the opportunity to socialise and network with other similar groups and the chance to share ideas and experiences in a relaxed environment.

There have been many examples of this networking resulting in ideas from one end of the country being established as successful projects in another region!

Past National Community Award Winners
2000: CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit & Support)
Westland District

2001: The Otangarei Youth Sports & Recreation Trust
Whangarei

2002: Te Puna Quarry Park Society Inc.
Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty District

2003: Palmerston Gateway to Gold Charitable Trust
Waihemo District

2004: Friends of Dunstan Hospital
Central Otago District

2005: Kihikihi Waikato Eventing
Waipa District

2006: Special Rigs for Special Kids
Dunedin City

2007: Palmerston North Street Van
Palmerston North City

2008: Wairoa Community Development Trust
Wairoa District

2009: The Friends of Motueka Hospital Trust
Nelson City/Tasman District

2010: Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust
Far North District

2011: Denniston Heritage Trust
Buller District

2012: Kaibosh
Wellington City

ENDS

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