Gold Award Winners
A well-known philanthropist and a five-time Oscar winner were both honoured at this year's Wellington Gold Awards, held last week at the TSB Bank Arena.
The Adams barely need an introduction. Denis Adam, Inspire Wellington Award winner, and his wife Verna have donated countless funds to artists, music academies and orchestras, as well as built a concert hall and an art gallery at Victoria University.
Denis was born in Berlin in 1924 to an upper middle-class family of secular Jews. His parents got out of Germany in 1933, the year Adolf Hitler became Chancellor.
The Inspire Wellington Ambassador Award went to Joe Letteri - director and co-owner of Weta Digital. The native Pennsylvanian's technical achievements have changed 'what is possible' in filmmaking and the innovations he and his teams developed to ensure Weta Digital continues to attract significant film contracts to Miramar. He was particularly instrumental in securing Avatar.
Both awards are sponsored by Wellington City Council. The Gold Awards have been held every year since 1999 to recognise enterprise and excellence in Wellington business.