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1345 days ago

Poll: Who would you vote for as New Zealander of the year?

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

The New Zealander of the the Year finalists are Dr Siouxsie Wiles, Farid Ahmed and Ranjna Patel.

The awards honour extraordinary Kiwis who inspire, give hope and lead.

Wiles is a microbiologist and science communicator from Auckland.

When Covid-19 first hit New Zealand, Dr Siouxsie Wiles rose to the challenge, said Miriama Kamo, Te Koruru – patron of the awards.

"... she's stood tall to speak to hundreds of millions globally," Kamo said.

"Her work helped us all to see beyond the fear and complexity of the pandemic, to understand not only what was happening, but also how we could, and can continue to, collectively respond."

Ahmed is the Muslim community leader who became an icon of forgiveness following the March 15 terror attacks in Christchurch.

After losing his wife in the attacks, Ahmed demonstratred how faith and love could
provide a pathway to navigate deep grief.

Awarded an international peace prize for his ongoing work, he published Husna's Story in March last year, donating all royalties to St John Ambulance.

The third finalist, Ranjna Patel, is the Tamaki Health director and a domestic violence social entrepreneur.

When Patel was asked to offer guidance around family violence in in the south Asian community, she identified a crucial missing step in family violence intervention – engaging offenders in their own rehabilitation.

In 2014, she established the first Gandhi Nivas home for perpetrators in Otahuhu, providing innovative early intervention and prevention services for Kiwi men.

A study undertaken by Massey University looked at men five years before entering Gandhi Nivas and after, and found 60% of men did not re-offend.

The annual Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards are in their 12th year.

The six winners will be announced in Auckland on March 31.

*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.

Who would you vote for as New Zealander of the year?
  • 65.7% Dr Siouxsie Wiles
    65.7% Complete
  • 17.6% Ranjna Patel
    17.6% Complete
  • 16.7% Farid Ahmed
    16.7% Complete
102 votes
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Movie fundraiser for saving wild birds!

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BirdCare Aotearoa and our friends at Hollywood Avondale cinema are screening Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963)!
Sunday 10th Nov, 6.30pm

This classic horror-thriller film was selected for our fundraiser, as Hitchcock explained that the events at Bodega Bay unfolded because humans took nature for granted, and this continues to be a timely reminder for us all to care for nature. The Birds will feature after a short trailer about BirdCare Aotearoa, and the evening is also a chance for you to meet our team.

All funds raised will support our renowned wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre, where heroes like you bring in up to 100 sick, injured or orphaned birds a day! We are a charity, operating on donations and grants, so thank you for supporting us!

The Hollywood Avondale is renowned as a "Free spirit in the cinematic world," and this historic cinema palace is the perfect setting for this fundraiser screening.

Bird lovers, classic film enthusiasts, horror fans, and historians, please share this invitation with friends, family and colleagues, and book your seats today!

events.humanitix.com...

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