Jim Morunga

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

2013

Tower

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Te Pou Toko o te Tau

Jim Morunga

Jim Morunga (1947–2017) was a visionary Māori community leader and youth advocate from Napier, New Zealand, whose life was dedicated to empowering rangatahi, particularly young Māori, through education, employment, and social support. Blinded in his early 20s due to separate accidents, he overcame adversity to establish transformative initiatives like the Jayem Trust and the Maraenui Community Trust, which pioneered youth employment and community worker programmes in schools. He also played a pivotal role in founding the Maraenui Rugby and Sports Association and was instrumental in the creation of the Pukemokimoki Marae, fulfilling a long-held community aspiration. In recognition of his lifelong service, Morunga was honoured as a Local Hero at the 2013 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Image from: Radio New Zealand

This award acknowledges those whose actions have had a significant and lasting impact in their communities. These quiet champions don’t wait for change – they create it. With conviction, care, and follow-through, our Local Hero recipients reflect the Aotearoa we all want to live in.

Nominees of this Award must:

Be an individual who has made (or is making) a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest), iwi, or local group.
Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
Be a role model for New Zealanders and highlight selflessness for their community.
Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Award Criteria

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau.
10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person – and how?
10 points: LEADERSHIP:
How does this person set a positive example for other members of their local community?
10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing). What have they done that has gone above and beyond to show leadership, create change, and give back?
10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their local community? (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest).

Conditions of Entry

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How do the New Zealand Local Hero Awards work?

All Local Hero nominations are divided up into their regions across Aotearoa.
Nominations for each region are then sent on to the panel Local Hero Judges for that area, for their consideration – who score the nominees based on the criteria above.
The top 100 (highest scoring) Local Hero nominees across New Zealand will be honoured as the Local Hero Medallists.
The 100 Local Hero Medallists will also go forward into the next round of Awards judging, to be considered for the national title of New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau. The 10 semi-finalists for this national title will be announced in December, the top three finalists in February, and the ultimate winner will be revealed at our Awards Gala in March.