A Murupara firefighter and a Tokoroa mum have been named winners of Pride of New Zealand awards.
Maera Maki-Anderson and Julie King last night won the emergency services and community spirit awards respectively. The awards ceremony was held at Auckland's War Memorial Museum.
The inaugural awards, supported by the Rotorua Daily Post, New Zealand Herald and APN regional newspapers with The Hits radio station and TSB Bank, recognised New Zealanders who make the most positive, uplifting and inspiring contributions to their community. There were 24 finalists representing the upper North Island, mid North Island, lower North Island and South Island.
Mrs Maki-Anderson was named emergency hero for her work as the chief fire officer at the Murupara Volunteer Fire Brigade. When she learned the neighbouring Kaingaroa Forest Volunteer Fire Brigade might close, she dedicated herself to save it. She set up a Help Save Kaingaroa Fire Brigade page on Facebook and went door-to-door to drum up volunteers as well as running a recruitment drive.
She has been a volunteer for 26 years and when she was initially told of her nomination in June said she was "quite shocked".