Pride of NZ: Trio claim regional awards

Buddhi Wilcox, who runs a Food for Life school lunch programme won the The Community Spirit Award. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Three Northlanders are in the running for the inaugural Pride of New Zealand title after winning the regional awards section in Auckland last night.

The Northern Advocate is behind the awards which aim to find deserving heroes in our community.

We're looking for those everyday Kiwis who selflessly strive to make New Zealand an even better place to live.

The awards are supported by the Northern Advocate with sponsors The New Zealand Herald, radio station The Hits, and TSB Bank.

Categories will be judged by prominent Kiwis and readers will also get to have a say through the TSB Bank's People's Choice Award.

At the ceremony for the Upper North Island sections of the awards last night three Northlanders headed their catagories.

The Community Spirit Award was won by Buddhi Wilcox, who runs a Food for Life school lunch programme, feeding more than 1000 Whangarei children each week.

The Environmental Award went to Todd Hamilton, of Whangarei, who has worked tirelessly over the past 15 years to recover kiwi populations in the Whangarei area.

The Fundraiser of the Year Award went to Tony Scott. An Auckland firefighter, Tony (Scottie) Scott is the man behind the annual Sky Tower Stair Challenge - which since its inception in 2005 has raised more than $2 million for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. Mr Scott and his family live in Pakaraka in Northland. He spends half his week in Auckland for his job with the fire service.

The regional awards were judged by Silver Fern Maria Tutaia, The Hits radio personality Polly Gillespie, owner of Yealands Estate Winery Peter Yealands, director of fundraising at Starship Jo Cowie and The New Zealand Herald editor Shayne Currie.

Overall category winners and the winner of the TSB Bank People's Choice vote will be named at the national ceremony at the Auckland Museum on September 10.

For more information visit the Pride of New Zealand website prideofnzawards.co.nz.