Victory Village semifinalist for NZ award

Nelson's Victory Village has been named one of 10 semifinalists in the community of the year category in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year awards.

The award, which Prime Minister John Key will present in February, acknowledges groups working together to build stronger communities. It is one of just two communities in the South Island to be named a semifinalist. The other is the Gibbston Community Association in Queenstown.Victory Community Association acting co-ordinator Andrea Barker said Victory "definitely deserves it". There were "a lot of passionate people" living in the village who collectively had been responsible for the growth of community spirit.

She attributed much of the community's success to its rallying around the threat of a motorway through the Railway Reserve. The fight had brought everyone closer, she said.

"When people are about to lose something they realise how valuable it is and everyone got behind that."

She also said Victory School principal Mark Brown had played a "huge" part in embracing the school's families and the wider community, and regular bazaars, market days and music events had added to the community feel.

"And there'll be more and more. We just have a great mix of people living in Victory and that makes it."

Finalists will be announced on January 5. The other semifinalist communities are from Wellington, Christchurch, Opotiki, Auckland (two), Te Puke, Queenstown and Waihi.

- © Fairfax NZ News