More than one hundred people attended a fun-filled celebration at the Manukau Civic Centre last month to mark the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board 2018 Community Volunteer Awards.
The event saw 96 individuals and groups acknowledged for the voluntary impact they have made to the arts, sports, community services, culture, seniors and youth sectors of the community. The award show featured speeches from local board members and performances by Indian and Cook Island dance groups.
Local Board chair Lotu Fuli says the Ōtara-Papatoetoe community relies heavily on its volunteers so the local board is pleased to be able to provide an event which recognises the invaluable contribution they make.
“We have so many great unsung heroes in this area and it was a real honour to award them for all their hard work.”
The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board has been hosting this event once every two years since 2012 and it intends to make it bigger and better going forward.
“This year it was pleasing to see the diverse volunteer groups in our community recognised,” Lotu says.
“The event is a celebration of our local volunteers as well as the rich cultural diversity of Ōtara-Papatoetoe. The local board really appreciates all the work volunteers do in our community as they help to enhance all the work we do as a board.”