Two semi-finalists recognised in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards 2024

Following on from the incredible news that four of our volunteers were announced as medalists in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Awards (link to the original post here), we are excited to announce two further semi-finalists!

We're incredibly proud that one of our own, Dr Maia Tipene, has been announced as one of ten Semi-Finalists in the University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau category. This award is one of seven categories in the 2024 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, and acknowledges young leaders across Aotearoa for their work to develop their skills and knowledge while supporting their community over the past year. Maia was nominated for her mahi in Hawke's Bay following Cyclone Gabrielle, where she played a lead role in TFKs response, leading the work of a multinational team to provide direct support to hundreds of families across the region. For most people that would count as a pretty incredible effort in 2023, but Maia also recently graduated from the University of Otago medical school.

Congratulations Maia!

Taskforce Kiwi has been announced as one of ten semi-finalists in the 2024 Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau category. This award is one of seven categories in the 2024 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, and acknowledges communities across Aotearoa for their mahi over the past year.

This nomination is the direct result of the thousands of hours of work put in by our volunteers to support communities in the wake of disasters, and wouldn't be possible without the support of our friends and partners across the country. Thank YOU team!

Congratulations to our fellow semi-finalists: Aviva, Give a Kid a Blanket, Jobs for Mums NZ, She Sharp, Voice of Aroha, Te Puna Reo o Manga Tangaroa, Backcountry Trust Aotearoa/New Zealand, WELLfed, Cyclone Gabrielle Volunteers.

Read more about Dr Maia Keti Tipene and Taskforce Kiwi's respective nominations here.