Matakaoa Community
New Zealand Community of the Year
2022
Mitre 10
New Zealand Community of the Year
Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau
Matakaoa Community
Over the past year the Matakaoa community has come together to address the issues of Covid-19 protection, vaccination, and misinformation. The small town, made up of a few hundred people, is determined to keep itself safe and well. The community worked together and decided collectively that it would embrace vaccination, declaring themselves an “immunity community”. Its innovative campaign to create social unity was to work with storytellers, scientists and doctors to learn about vaccinations and make sense of the information from their own perspectives and community values. Protecting themselves from misinformation and was also a strong driver. A series of short creative videos were made to encourage Māori vaccination rates, and members of the Matakaoa community featured in the “Be a doer, karawhiua” series, profiling locals and why they chose to receive the Covid-19 vaccination. The result was a cohesive rōpū, making decisions with consensus and achieving high vaccination rates.
The communities who have shown the best of collective change, achieving outstanding impact together. A group of people whose achievements enhance the social, economic, cultural, or environmental prosperity of the community they serve.
Nominees of this Award must:
- Be more than one person (duo, group, community or organisation) who has made – or is making – a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community (be it geographical, or interest specific), iwi, or local group. In any sector including (but not limited to) business, leadership, culture, voluntary work, disaster relief, environmental work, health, education, sporting clubs, or working with the disadvantaged.
- Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
- Be role models for New Zealanders and highlight collective action toward positive change.
- Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
- 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the community, group or duo you are nominating and the work that they do (particularly over the past 12-months) that has inspired you to nominate them as 2025 Mitre 10 Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau. - 10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from the work of this community, and how? - 10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing). - 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
How has this community clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How has this been measured? - 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
If applicable, how would the nominee/s enhance, grow, and/or adapt their approach in the future to best meet the changing needs of their community? How would winning this award impact this group and the work that they are doing? - 10 points: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING:
How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this community’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?
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