Lady Pippa Blake honoured as Kea Friend of New Zealand

Lady Pippa Blake honoured as recipient of 2017 Kea Friend of
New Zealand Award

Auckland, New Zealand: Friday 23rd June, 2017

Philanthropist and celebrated artist, Lady Pippa Blake, has been recognised as part of the 2017 Kea World Class New Zealand (WCNZ) Awards, becoming the first ever female recipient of the Friend of New Zealand title.

The sell-out gala dinner, held last night at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, saw UK-born Lady Pippa commended for her ongoing work with the Sir Peter Blake Trust, which she established in 2004 in order to continue her late husband’s legacy.

Kea NZ CEO, Craig Donaldson, says the Awards celebrate the work of world-class Kiwis, and friends of New Zealand, who are helping to define our nation’s reputation on the world stage - with Lady Pippa being a prime example.

“Over the last 13 years, Pippa has dedicated herself entirely to driving the Trust’s growth, and inspiring our next generation of Kiwi leaders, adventurers and environmentalists.

“She has successfully transitioned the organisation from a coordinator of beach clean ups, to that of large off-shore expeditions. Their flagship event, the Sir Peter Blake Trust Leadership Week, has grown to include roughly 1000 events around the country – including the Dream Sessions, which connect inspirational New Zealanders with young Kiwis, to teach them to back themselves in achieving their dreams,” Donaldson concludes.

On the night, Lady Pippa received a Kea WCNZ Tall Poppy statuette, designed by Weta-workshop co-founder (and 2009 Supreme Award winner) Sir Richard Taylor.

In addition to the Friend of New Zealand Award, the ceremony celebrated two Supreme Award winners, Sir Peter Jackson and Lady Fran Walsh – for their significant work establishing New Zealand on the world stage as a top tourist destination, and location of choice for the international film industry.

Also recognised were six World Class New Zealanders, including award-winning choreographer Parris Goebel; businessman Sir Rob Fenwick; scientist and entrepreneur Dr Privahini Bradoo; leading scientist Dr Phil Rolston; founder of Wrightspeed Inc. Ian Wright; and chef Robert Oliver.

Judging panel Chair, and Kea Global Chairman Phil Veal, says, “As is the case every year, the Awards are a showcase of the very best talent New Zealand has to offer. Each of our winners were subject to a rigorous judging process, which assessed them against five core criteria.

“A big focus for us is on how they’ve contributed to New Zealand’s global reputation, building global connections for New Zealand, as well as how they’ve promoted the exchange of information, knowledge and skills about our country,” Veal concludes.

For more information about the Kea WCNZ Award winners, see below:

Sir Peter Jackson:
• Director, screenwriter and producer for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Hobbit trilogy.
• Three Academy Awards, including Best Director for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003.
• Made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, 2002.
• Knighted as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, 2010.
• Awarded a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, 2014.

Lady Fran Walsh
• Screenwriter for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Hobbit trilogy.
• Seven-time Academy Award nominee, three-time winner for Best Picture, Best Writing, and Best Music for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
• Five-time BAFTA nominee, and two-time winner for Best Film and Best Screenplay - adapted for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
• Became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, 2002

Lady Pippa Blake
• Founded the Sir Peter Blake Trust in 2004.
• Patron to the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education Centre, the Devonport Yachting Club, and the Blue Climate and Oceans Project.
• Published author: Journey (2011) & Parenting by the Stars (2014 - contributor).

Dr. Privahini Bradoo
• Winner of the Fulbright Platinum Entrepreneurship Fellow scholarship.
• World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
• Distinguished Young Alumni Award from the University of Auckland.
• Co-founder and CEO, Blueoak.

Parris Goebel
• Founder of ReQuest and Royal Family dance crews, Gold at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013, and Silver 2011 & 2015.
• Female Choreographer of the Year, World of Dance Awards, 2014 & 2016.
• Young Leader Award, New Zealand Women of Influence Awards, 2015.
• Young New Zealander of the Year, Coca Cola Amatil New Zealander of the Year, 2014.
• Co-founder of Sisters United.

Dr. Phil Rolston
• 42 years with DSIR Grasslands / AgResearch in forages and forage seed research.
• China's highest award to foreigners, a Friendship Medal, 1996.
• The NZ Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture Technology Transfer Award, 2005.
• Researcher of the Year by the Foundation for Arable Research, 2008.
• China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award, 2015.

Ian Wright
• Co-founded Tesla Motors in 2003.
• Created the fastest street-legal electric car in the world - the X1.
• Bronze Power Generation Award, Edison Awards, 2015.
• Silicon Valley Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum Award, 2015.
• Technology Pioneer, World Economic Forum, June 2016.

Robert Oliver
• Chef Ambassador of Le Cordon Bleu, New Zealand / the Pacific Islands.
• Co-hosts Marae Kai Masters, a Maori cuisine show.
• Best Cookbook in the World, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris, 2010 Me'a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific
• Best TV Chef Cookbook in the World, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Beijing, 2013 for Mea'ai Samoa: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Polynesia.

Sir Rob Fenwick
• Founding Director, Living Earth Ltd, 1993 - Present.
• Advisory Board Members, Westpac New Zealand Limited, 2013 - Present.
• Special Advisor to the Director General, Department of Conservation, 2010 - Present.
• Sustainability Advisory Group Panel Members, Air New Zealand, 2008 - Present.
• Chairman, Antarctica New Zealand, 2007 - Present.
• Deputy Chairman, TVNZ, 2004 - 2010.
• Inducted into NZ Business Hall of Fame, 2016.
• Knighted Justice of Order of St John, 2006.
• Knighted for services to business and the environment, 2016.

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