Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients for Waitakere
Hayden Smith of Waitakere
Eight years ago Hayden began a job many would consider rubbish, cleaning up the Hauraki Gulf. Now he has picked up 1.8 million litres of rubbish and has involved West Auckland youth in his endeavours.
Hayden through work with local colleges, has managed to get teenagers to become aware of rubbish, how it effects us and to pitch in and pick up rubbish around local beaches and mangrove areas.
Mike De Boer of Massey
Mike is passionate about migrants and refugees. As an employment adviser of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, his employment tips have a 90% success rate in getting migrants interviewed with 95% success rate of employment.
Using the average NZ salary of $45,000 , migrants assisted by Mike into employment have contributed to over $12 million to the NZ economy.
In Auckland, Mike worked for five years as a full time volunteer with a community development organisation. Mike set up the Migrant Assistance Centre to assist 800 new Kiwis into employment. The Kiwi Contax migrant new Kiwis network was established.
He spends more than the 25 hours work load to empower migrants into employment.
In 2009 he jointly set up the SCOT Trust to empower 500 overseas and NZ based Asian children and orphans.
Susan O’Brien of Ranui
Over the last year Susan has taken 4 very sick children from CCS disability action, and has taken care of them. Now these children have all had abusive backgrounds and unfortunately also have very serious problems. Susan’s ability to care for a child and give them everything she has is inspiring and selfless. She takes these children and gives them hope and a future, not by just donating money, but by opening her home for these children to be loved and cared for and to know that they are important and special.
Lorna Wilkinson of Glen Dene
In 1996 animal lover Lorna Wilkinson became aware of work done by the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’s (RNZFB) Guide Dogs Services Fourteen years later, Lorna’s unshakable conviction that one person can make a difference has seen her raise almost $100,000 for RNZFB’s Guide Dog Services. And in addition to this, her ongoing work has helped to build awareness of the RNZFB’s services and educational messages in her West Auckland community.
Graham Atwood of Kumeu
Graham Atwood has lived most of his life in the Kumeu area. He is President of the Auckland Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society and has also been a longtime member of the Kumeu Ratepayers and is currently on their committee. Through his role with the Ratepayers and with guidance from local police, Graham has been instrumental in the formation of the Norwest Community Patrol in 2007.
The Nor-West Community Patrol Trust is a volunteer group that was set up to combat crime in the area, especially burglary, tagging and drug dealing and manufacturing. Members are the eyes and ears of the police. Graham is the Chairman has spent countless hours organising and coordinating volunteers, rosters, training and patrolling the community. The work of Graham and the patrol has had a hugely positive effect on his community.