Uplifting Hastings community thank you event

About 200 people attended the annual Hastings mayoral community thank you function held at Toitoi last night where, in addition to the normal celebration, a number of people who have given outstanding service to the community over the past year were recognised.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the event is a highlight of our year – an opportunity to acknowledge the many individuals, groups and organisations who contribute to the wellbeing of the wider district.

“This year it was also very special to give Mayoral Awards to 11 outstanding individuals who have in the course of their roles have gone above and beyond in their commitment to our district and people.”

While the annual Hastings Civic Awards were an opportunity to recognise people who voluntarily give back to the community, these awards were an initiative to pay tribute to those who gave outstanding service through their work, she said.

“These people have shown enormous dedication to support others and make Heretaunga Hastings the best place for our people. We are blessed to have so many outstanding people who give so much.”

The award recipients were:

Jack Jensen

Jack was on the ground after the cyclone hit, clearing silt and debris from people’s houses and properties and helping remove dead stock from roads. With his partner he created and ran Hawke’s Bay Helping – a website connecting people who needed help with volunteers available to do the work. He has since gone on to use his content creation and mental health platform, MSFT Productions, to host Fuel Your Stoke shows providing rural people with a safe space to reflect on their mental health.

Pitsch Leiser

After arriving to New Zealand about 30 years ago from his home town of Zurich in Switzerland, Pitsch was appointed the Community Arts Development Manager and the Festival Director for Arts Inc Heretaunga in October 2014. Since that time he has made an enormous contribution to the arts in Hastings from instigating and organising the annual HB Arts Festival (for a number of years in the spiegeltent in Havelock North Village Green) to instigating Jazz on the Village Green concerts, the Apple Project of 2022, and organising funding for murals. A true champion of the arts, whose passion and vision has driven many memorable initiatives that have been enjoyed immensely by the community.

David Forbes

David’s local knowledge proved incredibly valuable immediately after Cyclone Gabrielle when he assisted with Unimog rescues of people in need. His gallantry when up against appalling conditions in hours of darkness with torrential rain and raging waters, was hugely appreciated. He spent countless hours assisting away from his day job as an EIT tutor.

Corporal Storm Harrison

Storm Harrison’s local knowledge and expert skills were put to the test as the driver of an army Unimog, where he was faced with very challenging off-road conditions in the initial rescue response. With no vision in darkness, hammered by torrential rain and going into the unknown of the floodwaters, he showed exceptional bravery and selflessness to help others.

David Todd

Toddy contributed significantly to the Cyclone recovery work, in particular working with the rural communities and Evergreen Foundation on numerous events. He also contributed to ongoing recovery efforts through the Rural Support Trust. In addition, he volunteers his time to offer free training to the Young Fruitgrower of the Year competitors.

Craig McDougall

Craig is a long-time man of service to his community, including founding the Hawke’s Bay Youth Trust. For more than 10 years his work has impacted hundreds of families every year, through the gyms or in-school programmes or other community outreach.

Craig has successfully mentored and supported rangatahi, helping guide them into meaningful education at universities, New Zealand School of Dance, Outward Bound, EIT and also into employment and business throughout Hawke’s Bay.

Herman Godinet

Herman was a founding member of the widely acclaimed Hastings City Assist team that was formed in 2013 and which he helped steer to become a Hastings institution. He became the face of City Assist, fostering great relationships with retailers across the city centre, as well as the Police and other agencies.  He also mentored a new generation of staff that now, as City Assist enters its second decade of service, have the challenge of stepping into those big shoes to take the team into the future. 

Ngahiwi Tomoana

A man of many parts, among his many achievements, Ngahiwi was the first Iwi Liaison Officer appointed in Local Government and the longest serving Chairperson of an Iwi Authority for Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. Ngahiwi has driven the hard kaupapa for the iwi and throughout has been consistent in upholding the mana of all things Ngāti Kahungunu.

His hangi pit is one of the most famous in the country with many a yarn and strategic korero taking place around the glowing fire heating the hangi stones. In all cases his mana has galvanised and mobilised the movement of the people, most recently for the response to Covid-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle.

Whether it is in the halls of Parliament, foreign trade delegations, Iwi Leaders Forums, or a humble visit to the marae, Ngahiwi lights up the room with his charisma, talent and ability to cut through the dialogue with straight Kahungunu talk.

John O’Sullivan

A very successful businessman, through his business interests John has employed around 800 people, creating long-term sustainable employment, alongside supporting health and mental health initiatives, and encouraging young people who he has worked with to help give them a positive start in their careers.

He promoted the establishment of Mates 4 Life charitable trust, helped set up the Building Futures job skills training programme and set up the Evergreen Foundation cyclone relief fund, which went towards anything from supporting emergency flights to deliver supplies to isolated communities to events that brought communities together.

He has also funded a number of sponsorships to help local young people.

Geoff Keighley 

Without any hesitation, on the day of the cyclone Geoff took up the call to fly a helicopter alongside Cameron Taylor, helping with urgent rescues and deliveries. 

This included rescuing RSE workers and involved risky landings and battling with poor visibility and supporting exhausted and frightened people. He then assisted on flights to drop off generators and supplies to isolated farmers.

 He continued his valuable post-cyclone community work at Rotaforce in Bridge Pa.

Alistair Jamieson

Alistair has been an integral part of the RSE programme since its inception in 2007, managing one of the largest RSE programmes in New Zealand. He was the RSE manager for Mr Apple for many years prior to retiring in April 2024, and was an instrumental leader in both the region and New Zealand, contributing to the success of the programme. His dedication and passionate for the programme has been unparalleled.

PHOTO: From left, Alistair Jamieson, Daniel O’Sullivan (on behalf of John O’Sullivan), David Forbes, Jack Jenson, Craig McDougall, Ngahiwi Tomoana, Herman Godinet, Geoff Keighley, Corporal Storm Harrison, mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, David Todd. (Absent Pitsch Leiser).

29 November 2024

Back to News