Monterey/Uxbridge Arts Award:
Awarded for creative innovation and entrepreneurship in the arts community.
Finalists: Peter and Katharine Watts and Alison Mudford
Winners: Peter and Katharine Watts
(In absentia)
For 30 years Peter and Katharine Watts have brought music to Howick and surrounding areas. They founded Thursdays at Seven at All Saints Church, Howick to give young and established musicians an opportunity to perform to an audience. So far they have organised 170 concerts for the programme, which started in 2000. The couple’s wider involvement in music groups includes the Howick School of Music, Pakuranga Choral Society, Opera in the Church at All Saints, the Crossings Festival and the Manukau Symphony Orchestra.

Paul Stevenson Trust
Howick Young Person of the Year:
Open to young people aged 16 to 25, this acknowledges achievement or potential in study, work or training.
Finalists: Craig Bott and Pillippa Neels
Winner: Craig Bott
Craig, who was part of the Macleans College Jazz Combo, which provided           

Described as doing a job of love, Katherine Wong is a hospitality teacher at the senior campus of Southern Cross College, Mangere East where she takes her mainly teenage male students under her wing and strives for their achievement. Awarded Best Teacher of Hospitality in New Zealand, Katherine enters her students in national competitions often finding supplies and travel and dedicating many extra hours to her work. A humble and grateful Katherine was overwhelmed by her award and said afterwards that God had answered her prayers. “My students are entering competitions at the national culinary fair later this month and they need to practice, practice. I looked at my Visa account last month and wondered how we would manage this month. Now I can buy the ingredients they need to practice with.” Katherine has also helped raise funds to take student groups to top Hong Kong tourist hotels for work experience, which has proved invaluable in opening up employment opportunities for them in New Zealand.  She also transports six students from Mangere to a Botany church service every Sunday.

Howick Community Board
Citizen of the Year:
For outstanding service to the community or
a voluntary organisation within the community.
Finalists: Billie Biel and Andy Bray
Winner: Billie Biel

Dedicating a lifetime to the Pakuranga and Howick community, Billie Biel has managed and contributed to numerous projects with direct results for her fellow citizens. Keeping her extended family in mind,  Billie organised a long-term trust for the benefit of her iwi.  She has worked with John Russell Menswear giving food parcels to people in need; organised and funded a community constable’s car and has devoted an many hours to arranging Howick Neighbourhood Support, serving on the committee for 10 years. As an active member of the Pakuranga Methodist Church, Billie was responsible for the glass stained window facing Pakuranga Road. Macleans College also benefited from her generosity when she donated a grand piano for the school auditorium. Billie stills works for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Pakuranga.
“It’s an honour just being here with my family around me,” said Billy on Tuesday evening. “As for the money I will gift it to a worthy cause. I’m sure I’ll find something that it will benefit.”

entertainment throughout the awards evening, said he was thrilled and would use part of his $1000 cheque to buy a laptop. “I’m planning to study for conjoint commerce and law degrees and will need it [the computer] for university next year.”  The Macleans College student has contributed extensively to his school with involvement in many musical and co-curricular activities.  When Craig isn’t playing and practicing for school and church bands he teaches piano and manages the Macleans Concert Band. He has leadership roles in the school’s German club, student 40-Hour Famine and is part of the senior librarian team. As an active member of 1st Howick Boys Brigade Company, Craig was awarded the highest honour, the Queen’s Badge in 2007. This year he completed his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Westpac Business Person
of the Year Award:
Awarded to the owner, general manager or CEO of any business or enterprise, for excellence in areas such as service delivery, employment relations, innovation or overall performance.
Finalists: Byron Bentley (Macleans College), Mary Wilson (Baverstock Oaks School)

Under the leadership of Byron Bentley Macleans College is one of New Zealand’s top academic colleges.  Far-sighted planning and strategies have led to student success in Cambridge International examinations and NCEA.  Recognising the potential of the international student market Byron took the college in a new business direction in 2000.  From only 100 international students in 2001, the business has successfully grown to 280 students and generates a net $1.8 million for the school annually. The additional income enables the school to provide more facilities and co-curricular programmes than would be possible if dependant on Government funding. The school raises 50% of its own funds each year to run the school. Acknowledging his award Mr Bentley said “ Obviously the enterprise couldn’t go ahead without the full support of our community who have provide us with 290 home-stays for which we are most grateful.” The cheque, he said would be used for the teachers’ fitness programme.