Many of the Waikato district’s unsung heroes stepped into the spotlight this week as pride, humility and community spirit took centre stage at Waikato District Council’s chambers.
This year’s Mayoral Community Award took place on 9 June 2025.
Hosted by Mayor Jacqui Church and councillors, more than 100 people attended the event from across the Waikato district including those nominated for a community award, their whanau, family and friends.
The awards acknowledge the hard work and dedication, often over decades, by members of the Waikato district community.
This year’s award winners included a local fire service hero, a conservation and environment ‘go to’ expert, community hall committee members as well as active members of local schools and community houses.
The inspirational stories were evident throughout the celebration. Many award recipients had taken on many volunteering positions unprompted with many years of service.
Mayor Jacqui said the event marked her third Community Mayoral Awards ceremony, and said it was always one of her favourite events on the calendar.
“We recognise those outstanding members of our community who give countless hours of their precious time to making our communities better,” she said.
“The special people who were nominated yesterday are really the unsung heroes of our community.
“Being the third ceremony for me, this one seemed even extra special – we recognised some outstanding individuals, along with long-service awards for seven Justices of the Peace with over 200 years of experience collectively, and three local Hato Hone St John Ambulance Stations.”
Mayor Jacqui said the vibe in the room was one of pride, humility, and a sense of community.
“We were all left humbled by many stories of compassion, dedication, and generosity – community spirit is alive and well in the Waikato district,” she said.
“We cannot thank our community volunteers enough and this was just a small way to acknowledge their valuable work.”
Special mention went to the late Shane Solomon for his work and advocacy throughout his life.
"Many of our award winners give their time, energy, and heart to care for our community—not alone, but as part of larger groups working together. Tonight, we’re shining a light on a few individuals, but they truly represent a much wider circle of people who show up every day to make a difference. We may not be able to thank each person by name, but please know how deeply grateful we are for everything you do."
For photos from the event and more information about the award recipients click here.
