Volunteer Recognition Awards 2025
Each year Volunteering New Plymouth honours and recognises special volunteers with a Volunteer Recognition Awards Celebration. This year this was again held at New Plymouth District Council Chambers on Saturday 14th June,2025. Which is the day before National Volunteer Week.
This year there were 37 people who came across the stage to receive their award. This included just two people representing each team. However, there were a total of 98 people recognised as there were 59 people among the 5 teams recognised and 18 also in the Family / Whanau category.
We are delighted to share this year’s winners and the categories they were awarded under
Background for these awards recognise and honour people who have made an outstanding contribution in our community. Nominees were be judged on their voluntary work within the nominating organisation and the wider community. These services must be provided voluntarily to help others without expecting any personal or financial gain.
Individual
Katy Quest Flourish
Marie Rutten Sustainable Taranaki
Robin Bublitz Take Them A Meal
Couple
For Couples who volunteer together for an organisation or have both volunteered for a long period of time (5 years or more) (not necessarily for the same Organisation)
Tom & Linda Cloke Take them A Meal
Colin & Theresa Gibbon Inglewood Athletic Club
Long Service
This special award recognises and honours people who have been volunteering for 15 years or more in their community.
Barbara Hammonds Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society
Elizabeth (Lee) Ross St Vincent de Paul
Patricia (Tricia) Gillbanks NP Riding for Disabled
Raewyn Bocock Taranaki Cancer Society
Rowan Williams Swimming Taranaki
Val Huffam Waitara Swimming Club
Youth Individual
Youth Volunteers up to the age of 25 at close of nominations may be nominated in the Youth category.
Arielle Healy NP Riding for Disabled
Gabriella (Gabby) Brady Take Them A Meal
Grayson Armstrong-Wilson Rotokare Scenic Reserve
Youth Team
City of NP Cadet Unit Taranaki Cancer Society
2LT Stephen Bovett & CDT WO2 Ryan Jameson
Team
While the awards have traditionally marked the efforts of individual volunteers. The focus of this award is on either projects undertaken by organisations or effective and efficient service operations, and programmes run by organisations which involve a team of volunteers that make a positive community contribution.
Buggy Drivers Friends of Pukekura Park
Roz Miller & John Konijn
Cemetery Project Team NP Genealogy Society
Pat George & Noreen Potts
Taranaki Maori Wardens Taranaki Maori Wardens
Peter Johns & Shaun Gedye
Volunteer Chaplains Assistants (VCA’s)
Barbara Hooper & Heather Butler
Tuku Iho
This category is for Family / Whanau that have 3 or more generations who volunteer. The volunteering does not need to be for the same Organisation. Information about each nominee is to completed on their contribution to the Organisation and the community.
Marian & Nikki Valintine Family Inglewood Welfare Society
Kevin & Noah Nielsen Family Conductive Education Taranaki
Ray, Angela & Zach Willy/ Wright Family Rotokare Scenic Reserve
Weaving Together
This category, (chosen by the Manager) has criteria that the volunteer contribution of these people is significant across multiple groups or organisations
Chris Herlihy Long Service Art Taranaki
Graham Dodunski Individual NP Riding for Disabled
Jo Parsons Individual Waitara Foodbank Pataka Kai
Yvonne Muskee Individual WISE Charitable Trust
This is an awesome celebration of some of our amazing volunteers within the community. And it is only because of the nominators who take the time to put together the story of these great people. The nominations are always open so if you know someone or a great team of volunteers who you think should be recognised – don’t leave it till next year – put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard and start that nomination NOW . you can find the form on our website www.volunteeringnewplymouth.org.nz... under news and events the nomination forms are there – as well as all the previous winners
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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17.5% Hmm, maybe?
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9.5% Yes!
A riddle to start the festive season 🌲🎁🌟
I'm a fruit. If you take away my first letter, I'm a crime. If you take away my first two letters, I'm an animal. If you take away my first and last letter, I'm a form of music. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
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