Broadcaster given lifetime membership award

Broadcaster given lifetime membership award

The Board of Trustees of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation/Te Tuuaapapa Mate Aaraikore O Aotearoa takes great pleasure in announcing the award of two new Lifetime Memberships. The Board created the Lifetime Membership Award to recognise people who have made an outstanding contribution to furthering the work of the Foundation. The recipients of the Lifetime Memberships this year are Henare Te Ua and Dan Coomey.

Henare has been Kaumatua for the Foundation for many years now, and his leadership and guidance in this role has been much valued by us. As well as this, Henare has made an outstanding contribution to our work in his continued efforts to raise the profile of HIV/AIDS in Aotearoa/New Zealand. He has been a voice of understanding, tolerance and a source of accurate information in an area often marred by ignorance, bigotry and fear.

Dan has worked for us in our Hamilton office, Te Puawaitanga O Te Ora, for nearly ten years, but his contribution has been much more than that of a paid employee. He has acted as a mentor to many in the gay community in Hamilton and the Waikato region. He has been a person known and valued for his trust, discretion and compassion in dealing with the intricate, intimate and difficult issues that many in the gay community face. His contribution to furthering our work has been outstanding.

The Trustees are deeply gratified to be able to make these Awards, and extend their congratulations and thanks to both Dan and Henare for their work.

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