Hats off to top Kiwis

It's official - a couple of top New Zealanders live in south Auckland.

Otara's Haami (Sam) Tutu Chapman has won the Local Hero Award at the inaugural New Zealander of the Year awards while East Tamaki's Divya Dhar has been named the Young New Zealander of the Year.

Mt Eden inventor Ray Avery won the supreme New Zealander of the Year title at the glitzy awards cere-mony in Auckland on Wednesday night.

The awards were set up to recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and communities across the country and to acknowledge their work's inspirational influence.

Mr Chapman's award was for his "extraordinary" work with gangs and communities at risk. His achievements include being the first chairman of Computer Clubhouse 274 and founding the Awhi Whanau Early Childhood Centre.

His highest profile work has been with the Mongrel Mob's Notorious Chapter and he's credited with helping gang members turn their lives around.

He says his award is one for the whole community.

"It's a real honour to be nominated but it reflects the effort of the whole community.

"It's even better winning and representing south Auckland. It's more of a recognition for the community - I'm just the mouthpiece.

"And it shows the effort our community is putting in is making a difference."

Mr Chapman's family were with him at the awards ceremony and were "proud and honoured" when he won.

"None of this would happen without family. Part of our work is restoring memory of what families are like.

"People rediscover what it means to be a family - to be loved and be honoured. It's what our home and whanau should be like."

Mr Chapman's also "very happy" with the $5000 he was awarded by Kiwibank and he'll be using it "just like every other family in south Auckland - pay some bills".

Ms Dhar, who has just finished six years of medical studies, says winning the Young New Zealander of the Year Award was one of the best moments of her life.

"It was so humbling and I felt so honoured and excited when it was announced."

She's been active in the community since she was a teenager. She's been the Auckland vice-president of the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand and a leader with Global Poverty Action.

She's worked with Oxfam and Rotaract and raised more than $20,000 for the Cure Kids charity race.

During her time as vice-president of the New Zealand Medical Students Association she wrote a policy to combat the problem of "doctor drain" that's now been adopted by the government.

Ms Dhar was also awarded $5000 which she says will go to new charity P3 Foundation which she set up with friends "to mobilise young people to break the poverty cycle".

"My commitment in life is to eradicate poverty," she says.

"People need to be educated to show they have the power to change the situation and with that comes real hope."

Mr Avery, 62, is a former street kid turned scientist whose low-cost medical devices, invented in the garage of his Mt Eden home, are making a difference to millions of the world's most vulnerable people.

He founded the charity Medicine Mondiale and his creations include intraocular lenses to combat cataract blindness, an intravenous flow controller to prevent fatal drug administration errors; and a high-tech low-cost, low maintenance incubator saving the lives of premature babies in Africa.

Also honoured at the awards were Sir Eion Edgar of Otago, named Senior New Zealander of the Year for his lifetime of philanthropic service, and Victory Village in Nelson which won the Community of the Year Award for creating strong support services for happy and successful communities.

The 10 remaining finalists were also honoured at the event as High Achievers and each received a certificate of appreciation for their contributions to New Zealand.

- © Fairfax NZ News