Pride of NZ: Humble helper loves his work

Owner Jim Edwards (left), Shane Hawkins, Jordan Brooking and Shane Bruere perform the end-of-season clean-up for the Nga Tukemata o Kahungunu waka. Photo / FIle

Pride of New Zealand finalist Jim Edwards is as humble as he is selfless.

The Whakatu resident won the Ringahora category in this year's Matariki Living Taonga Awards, and is a finalist in the community spirit category for the Pride of New Zealand awards to be presented in September.

"It's a bit of a strange one for me, it's not the focus of my work. I just do what I love doing."

Mr Edwards was looking for a change after spending 21 years at the Whakatu Freezing Works before it closed it's doors.

He has been helping disabled people find confidence and succeed for more than 25 years.

He's now owner and operator of Nga Tukemata o Kahungunu, a service which helps people badly affected by strokes and other accidents reconnect their hands and minds.

For a decade he and wife Marie survived on $125 a week while he volunteered his time to help others and built a waka to be used as part of the therapy he provided, as well as education.

His goal is to benefit individuals from all cultures and walks of life.

"I work with permanently disabled stroke victims. Many of them were fit people until they became a victim of this uncertainty - it might be someone who has had an accident, whether on the sporting field or in a vehicle - a lot of them were very talented people but they have a disability," he said.

"Some have good minds but their limbs are affected or vice versa - we don't leave any of them behind.

"My work is very rewarding. I grew up with people with disabilities so I wanted to focus on bettering the lives of the disabled."

Mr Edwards previously worked with Corrections but felt the disabled required his help more as their condition wasn't "self-inflicted".

He said it would be an honour to win.

"It really would mean a hell of a lot. I'm just glad I was able to put this all together and to try make a difference in their lives."

Regional award winners will be judged by the national judging panel, including Judy Bailey and Willie Apiata, and will be recognised at the national award ceremony in September.