Pride of NZ: Accentuating the positives

Murray Pike has devoted almost 20 years to serving St John. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

Nominee's dedication to training and mentoring with St John make an impression

Murray Pike

Emergency Services category: Masterton's Murray Pike has always wanted to leave a positive impression on whoever he meets — so he joined the emergency services.

Mr Pike, a volunteer paramedic and team manager at St John Ambulance Service, has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand Award after almost 20 years of serving the Wairarapa community.

The father-of-one was nominated by an anonymous member of the public, who praised him not only for his medical work but his dedication to training and mentoring ambulance volunteers, organising events and promotions and running public first-aid courses — which "can easily eat away 40 to 50 hours a week of his time".

"Wairarapa has been very lucky to have someone who has been able to dedicate this much time — but [who has] sadly gone totally unnoticed for what he has done," said the nominator.

Mr Pike first joined St John Ambulance as a volunteer in 1997.

"I've always wanted to ensure that anyone who comes into contact with me leaves feeling more positive," he said. "Plus, the human body is amazing — it's a hugely diverse and interesting group of organs. Even small medical interventions can have a powerful outcome."

Mr Pike now volunteers as team events manager for St John, where he organises personnel on standby at major events.

Mr Pike said he feels "very humbled, and a little embarrassed" to receive a nomination.