WELLfed Supreme Award winners at Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards
3 Feb 2022
Last night WELLfed were announced Supreme Award winners at the 2021 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards presented virtually by Te Radar. They were one of 270 groups nominated for awards from around the Wellington region.
From their base in Cannons Creek, WELLfed nourishes communities through food and connections. Their vision is that everyone has choices, resources and skills for living well. They provide a food-centred community adult-education programme, also offering extra growth and leadership opportunities. WELLfed aims to contribute to a future where Porirua is looked to as a model for social wellbeing, and its people are even more independent and powerful.
Steve Sanderson, Chief Executive of Wellington Airport said “We first met WELLfed when they won the Regional Rising Star award at the 2018 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength, enabling over 800 learners to feed more than 48,000 people, with their volunteers contributing over 16,000 hours. They also provided much needed frontline support during Covid-19”.
The 2021 awards received the highest number of nominations since the awards first began in 2004, which Sanderson said was impressive given the challenges faced because of Covid-19.
“One thing that’s really stood out this year is how groups have stepped up to make sure their communities are connected and well cared for throughout Covid, whether that’s delivering food parcels to those in need, supporting positive mental health or providing online services to maintain social connections.
Each and every group nominated is a winner and it’s great to be able to recognise their amazing efforts”.
WELLfed co-founders, Kim Murray and Rebecca Morahan say: “We feel humbled to be recognised alongside so many others doing powerful mahi aroha in our communities across the region. We are incredibly proud of our team’s achievements – particularly our adult learners who take the skills learnt at WELLfed and ripple them through our communities.
“We are immensely grateful to whānau, friends, funders and supporters who believe in the dream.
“WELLfed’s mahi is to connect and nourish people with skills, confidence and resources. True power is with people – he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”.
Roger Palairet, Chair of Wellington Community Trust said: “Our vision at Wellington Community Trust is ‘Thriving Communities Across the Wellington Region’; and we know it takes a lot more than funding to make that happen. The real impact is in the work that community organisations like WELLfed do; that often goes unrecognised. To every group and volunteer whether an award recipient, nominee, or those too hard at work to even get nominated – we celebrate you all and the incredible work you do”.
Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards 2021 Winners
- Supreme Award: WELLfed
- Arts and Culture: Ahu Charitable Trust ki Pukerua Bay – the Pukerua Bay Hub
- Education and Child/Youth Development: Te Ara Korowai
- Health and Wellbeing: WELLfed
- Heritage and Environment: Animal Evac NZ
- Sport and Leisure: Rotary Club of Plimmerton
- Rising Star Award: Orange Sky
- People’s Choice Award: Camp Quality
About the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards
Wellington International Airport, Wellington Community Trust, and the five local councils come together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the wider Wellington region. The focus of the awards is to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society.
Citations:
Supreme Award and Health and Wellbeing: WELLfed
WELLfed nourishes communities through food and connections. Their vision is that everyone has choices, resources and skills for living well. They provide a food-centred community adult-education programme, also offering extra growth and leadership opportunities. WELLfed aims to contribute to a future where Porirua is looked to as a model for social wellbeing, and its people are even more independent and powerful.
Arts and Culture: Ahu Charitable Trust ki Pukerua Bay – Pukerua Bay Hub
Ahu Charitable Trust ki Pukerua Bay enables the community to come together through art, culture, and educational activities. An annual Matariki Festival celebrates te ao Māori with art, performances, and a night walk through the magical Koawa Ngaro Secret Valley Walkway. Their mahi aims to better connect the local community making Pukerua Bay a more resilient and vibrant place to live.
Education and Child/Youth Development: Te Ara Korowai
Te Ara Korowai is a creative wellbeing centre in Raumati Beach. They offer free creative and wellbeing classes to the community, with a special focus on those going through a tough time with mental health, and those with disabilities. During lockdown, staff and volunteers ran all classes online via Zoom to keep members connected and supported. They are passionate about supporting positive mental health in our community, and providing a safe, supportive place to connect, participate and learn new skills.
Heritage and Environment: Animal Evac NZ
Animal Evac is New Zealand’s only dedicated animal disaster management charity. 300 volunteers nationwide work with emergency services to help evacuate, shelter and re-unite animals with their families during disasters, to ensure that no animal is left behind. Between emergencies, they work with government on policy, communities on emergency preparedness, and councils on animal-friendly evacuation facilities
Sport and Leisure: Rotary Club of Plimmerton
Rotary Club of Plimmerton take on a wide variety of projects designed to make a difference in the community. 20 years ago, a Rotarian had a dream of building a pathway around the Pauatahanui Inlet, and a joint project with the club, Porirua City and the community made the Te Ara Piko Pathway a reality. The pathway was designed to enhance the beautiful environment it transverses and is enjoyed by 65,000 visitors each year.
Rising Star Award: Orange Sky
Orange Sky is the world's first free mobile laundry service non-profit organisation that positively connects communities. They provide warm showers, clean laundry and genuine, non-judgmental conversations to people doing it tough, supporting some of the 41,000 New Zealanders that find themselves homeless each night. Orange Sky believe every person should feel connected and welcome in a safe environment, regardless of their living circumstances.
People’s Choice Award: Camp Quality
Camp Quality are a volunteer-led organisation providing fun, hope and happiness to children living with cancer. Every summer they take 300 cancer kids, and teams of amazing volunteers, on a week of fun and adventures. They passionately believe in the power of fun to help children and their families overcome the challenges of living with cancer.
