Pride of NZ Awards: Kathleen Mato

Mahia environmentalist Kathleen Mato has a simple philosophy when it comes to seeking to change something that does not seem right. "You have to step forward and you have to do something, don't just sit there and talk about it." "It has been a lot of hard work and we have forged ahead," she said of the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group which she started in 2010. Her first task was to convince her own people they could make a change, but it wasn't easy. "Some laughed and said it couldn't be done." A year of hui and meetings and consultations followed to convince others to become pro-active rather than reactive.