From recognising heroic rescues during Cyclone Gabrielle to tireless commitment to supporting sports clubs and newcomers to the district, this year’s Hastings Civic Honours Awards honoured a wide range of local residents for giving back to their community.
Three groups and 29 individuals received an honour, a tradition of acknowledgement that has been run by Hastings District Council for more than 30 years.
Their contributions to the community ranged from feeding the hungry to supporting those less well off, caring for our environment, fundraising, assisting newcomers to the district and country, providing expertise and assistance to sports codes, caring for the elderly, providing pastoral care along with employment, facilitating positive recognition for our district, organising events, and otherwise lending a hand wherever it’s needed.
Hastings Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst said all the recipients had made a significant impact on the community in a wide range of ways.
“These awards recognise that while these people may have full and busy lives, they have stepped up to dedicate their time, energy and resources to make a positive difference to the lives of others, and our district as a whole,” she said.
“These efforts have been voluntary, for no reward other than helping others and caring for the wellbeing and sustainability of our district.
“This contribution is hugely important for our community’s wellbeing, and also supports for our local economy.
“We also acknowledge that these efforts are made all the more possible in many cases due to the friends and families and teams who work alongside and support them to give back.”
The 2025 Civic Honours Award recipients are:
- Hindu Council of Hawke’s Bay Incorporated – for contributing to improving the Hastings community’s understanding of Hindu culture, and bringing diverse local Hindu congregations together.
- Lions Club of Hastings Host – for fundraising and donating to many worthy causes.
- Christian Lovelink Napier/Hastings Inc – for voluntary efforts assisting families/individual needs with thousands of donated household items.
- Linda and Ian Quinn – for their work as members of the Maraekākaho Volunteer Fire Brigade.
- Marcel and Kim Van Hooijdonk – for working with councils and the community to improve flood resilience at Haumoana.
- Tom and Maureen Morris – for voluntary support of the Hawke’s Bay Golf Club over 25 years.
- Marei Apatu – for leadership and advocacy for Māori over more than 30 years.
- Bronwyn Harman – for voluntary fundraising efforts and donation of time to multiple community organisations and charities.
- Leah Setford – for her dedication and expertise given to multiple sports entities.
- Judith Goldsack – for voluntary work to multiple organisations including Arts Inc, Heretaunga, Nourished for Nil and Heretaunga Women’s Centre.
- Terry Huffam – for supporting local football, including young players with the Hastings Rovers Football Club and Flaxmere College.
- Daman Kaur – for helping immigrant ethnic communities navigate anything from the health system to education, parenting and schooling.
- Michael Devonshire – for his commitment and work as trustee of the Te Mata Park Trust Board.
- Ann Redstone – for passionate advocacy for coastal protection through the WOW (Walking on Water) committee.
- Kirsteen Rae Keene – for dedication to supporting the elderly over the past 20 years.
- Van and Kim Howard – for their commitment to bringing back and running the Havelock North ANZAC Day service for the past nine years.
- Robbie Cargill – for his leadership in musical education, and musical contribution to important civic events.
- Iain Taylor – for his ongoing commitment to Hawke’s Bay hockey since the 1990s.
- Kim Thorp – for giving his time to share his marketing and creative expertise for the development of the Hawke’s Bay brand.
- Taurus Taurima – for his work with the Topline Training Academy that he established and which has provided life-changing opportunities for over 100 young people who have been through the programme.
- Suzanne Rose and Lee Pepping – for raising funds and organising the supply of winter thermals to children in the wider Hastings area for the past five years.
- Paul Simmonds – for bravely assisting stranded people to get to safety, and delivering vital supplies during Cyclone Gabrielle.
- Phil Bayens – for rescuing people via jet boat during Cyclone Gabrielle.
- Mary Moore – for her many years work with Neighbourhood Support and setting up a hub in Puketapu South after Cyclone Gabrielle.
- Richard (Dick) Hilton (posthumous) – for his work as a dedicated Waiohiki Marae Board trustee, and his support and advocacy for the Hawke’s Bay Sport Fishing Club and Coastguard Hawke’s Bay.
- Dr John Wakeman (posthumous) – for his service to the Hastings community in the fields of health and education for nearly 50 years, voluntarily giving vast amounts of time to guide the governance of various local school and medical boards.
- Neeracha Rattanaworametha – for setting up a kitchen immediately after Cyclone Gabrielle and making and delivering a total of about 120,000 free meals for people in need.
