Pride of New Zealand: A passion for community

Vivien Cooper. Photo / File

A Rotorua woman with a passion for helping people has been nominated in the Community Spirit category of the Pride of New Zealand Awards.

Vivien Cooper has had a "seemingly endless" list of volunteer roles in the community, according to her nominator.

Mrs Cooper was the local 2014 Weet-Bix Tryathlon co-ordinator, has been the John Paul College PTA treasurer for seven years, a Swim Rotorua committee member and a member of Culture Club, an advocacy group for community welfare.

She was also one of the organisers of this year's GlobalFest, is a Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator and in the past has been involved with Plunket, the Rotorua toy library, music school and for seven years ran the Tour de Lakefront cycle event.

"For me it's really about helping people, sometimes we forget that the community can't function without volunteers," she said.

"It's always win win. The community wins, the person [she's helping] wins and I win by being able to give a little bit of my time to make it a better place."

She admits fitting all her commitments around running a bed and breakfast requires "a very good diary".

But her motivation is simple. "I enjoy helping people."

About Pride of New Zealand Awards
Anyone can nominate people they feel are unsung heroes working hard to make a difference within their community. The awards are being held in association with the Rotorua Daily Post, The New Zealand Herald, The Hits radio station and TSB Bank.

The six categories honour bravery and heroism, community spirit, environmental leaders, emergency heroes and fundraisers. A special lifetime achievement award will be given and there is a people's choice award. For more information and to nominate visit the Pride of New Zealand website - www.prideofnzawards.co.nz.