Paeroa – New Zealand's Community of the Year

Paeroa was awarded the “New Zealand Community of the Year” award at the New Zealander of the year gala awards ceremony held at the Langham Hotel in Auckland last.

“Being named as New Zealand’s community of the year is tremendously exciting and will be a real boost for Paeroa” said the Mayor of Hauraki, Mr John Tregidga “and it is great to see the hard work that been undertaken over many years by the community being rewarded in this way”.

“I speak for the whole District in congratulating Paeroa in winning this award” said Mr Tregidga
District councillor and Paeroa Ward Chairperson Julie Bubb said that “she was over the moon with the award” and that “it was well deserved recognition for the work undertaken by the large numbers of volunteers to develop a safe and vibrant community”.

Councillor Bubb further stated that “the application had focused on the community spirit and the involvement in the town of many organisations and agencies, the staging of events and the very successful safer community programmes that were currently underway in the town and was a testament to work, effort and the can do attitude of the many people involved.”.

The New Zealander of the Year Awards recognise, encourage and reward New Zealand’s most vital asset - its people. The awards seek out and honour the incredible achievements of individuals, organisations and community groups who inspire us all through their commitment, hard work and achievements and create a sense of national pride, unity and inspiration through their example as mentors and role models to the wider community.

“I am very excited that the community spirit and the success of the Paeroa Community have been recognised in this way” said Councillor Bubb, “and it is very pleasing to realise that this recognition has been given against such strong competition from seventy (70) entries nationwide”.

In making the award the judges noted that there is more to Paeroa than its famous iconic soft drink “Lemon and Paeroa”. Determined not to fall into decline as so many small towns do when they are faced with an increasingly mobile population and lack of opportunities, Paeroa has countered this with an active and successful events calendar and enhancement of its heritage attractions to actively promote Paeroa as a place to live, work and do business in. The heart of this community really lies with the large number of volunteers whose can-do attitude has seen the community develop to be a safe and vibrant community.
The contribution of a number of groups has meant that Paeroa hosts a significant number of events throughout the year and is fast becoming known as a tourism destination as well as the “Antiques Town of New Zealand”. Some of the groups involved are The Paeroa Community Support Trust, Positive Paeroa, Paeroa

Promotions Trust, Paeroa Highland Games Trust, Life Education Trust, Paeroa Lions, Paeroa Rotary and numerous sporting clubs.