Media Release – Embargoed to 7.30pm
6 September 2011

Wellington City salutes its safety heroes

Heroes who made a difference in the lives of their fellow Wellingtonians were honoured tonight.

Led by Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Detective Inspector Stephen Vaughan, Wellington Police Acting Area Commander, the seventh annual Wellington Safety in the City Awards were held at the Wellington City Council Chambers.

Mayor Wade Brown said the awards honoured people who risked their own lives to save others, and made efforts every day to keep their fellow citizens safe.

“The community awards recognise people who have shown amazing bravery in a particular situation, or who have worked tirelessly to keep Wellington and Wellingtonians safe,” she said.

“Every one of the recipients tonight had a special story and I was pleased to honour them. In some cases lives were saved, and in all cases their efforts made Wellington a better place to live. As a community we should be proud of them all.”

Seventeen awards were presented to Wellingtonians from all over the city. They included a woman who stepped in to save a neighbour from a knife attack, people involved with the rescue of commuters on the sinking East by West Ferry and a volunteer who initiated a programme to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Wellington City was designated an International Safe Community in 2006, the only capital city in the world to achieve that status in the World Health Organisation initiative.

The award citations are included in a separate document. Contacts for the award recipients are available for media with the agreement of the recipient, by contacting the Mayor’s Office.

ENDS

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