"Taking down the fences between sectors has benefited all parties and increased the chance of sustainable results through community ownership and collaboration"
Philanthropy NZ 2009 conference participant

Auckland City’s Community Safety Awards 2009

November 2009

altSeveral community-driven initiatives were recognised at Auckland City's annual Community Safety Awards - this story from Auckland City Council:


"The Auckland City's annual Community Safety Awards evening was held on Wednesday 9 September in the concert chamber of the town hall and was a great success. The Awards ceremony has become an important event on the council calendar and gives us a great opportunity to celebrate some of the excellent work that is happening in the communities.


This year, the number of categories was increased and by the closing date in early July, 31 diverse nominations had been received in 6 categories. Then began the big job of getting to know all the nominees so we can represent them fully to the judging panel and on the awards evening by displaying their activities.


All 31 nominees, their family, friends and nominators were invited along to the town hall ceremony to meet the Mayor and receive a certificate from him in recognition of the great contribution they make to the safety of their communities. In all, we received around 200 guests on the night.


A judging panel, headed by Cr Goldsmith as Chair of the Community Services committee, selected five nominees as being outstanding in their categories and decided to give two meritorious awards in addition to these five.

Outstanding in their categories

  • Peter Lett - Individual Community Volunteer Award for promoting the eradication of graffiti vandalism in Newmarket and surrounding areas
  • Glen Innes Drug and Alcohol Group - Innovation Award for building community resilience by raising the awareness of alcohol and drug issues
  • Elizabeth Binning - Media Award for her honest and provocative published series in The New Zealand Herald on child abuse
  • Tableside Charitable Trust - Not-For-Profit Organisation Award for engendering tremendous community spirit through coordinated volunteer activities in the community
  • Keith Hay Park Users Group - Environmental Safety Award for their successful, coordinated response to crime and safety issues
Meritorious awards
  • Grace Ikenasio & the Avondale Christian Centre Youth Group - for writing a song and producing a DVD against graffiti vandalism
  • Outreach Therapy pets programme - for ongoing animal safety education and animal therapy for children and adults across the Auckland region.

An Auckland metalwork artist was commissioned to create 7 sculptures to be awarded to the outstanding entrants from each category. Chris Moore sculpted these beautiful bronze pieces (pictured above) to be our 2009 awards.


Denise Krum from Tableside Charitable Trust says they were delighted to receive their award. "We are simply doing our bit to add value to our neighbourhoods, and to be recognised by the Mayor and the council was a great boost for us," she says. "We felt like the small bit that we do to make our neighbourhoods better was really important to them and to the city. It makes us want to do more."

Supplied by Sheena Ablett, Safety Coordinator - Arts, Community and Recreation-Services, Auckland City Council