AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE
4 May 2006

Calling all nominees for safety awards

Auckland City is seeking nominations for the “Mayor of Auckland’s Community Safety Awards”, which reward unique and innovative efforts to reduce crime and injury, and promote community safety.

The awards, now in their second year, seek to recognise businesses, groups and individuals who have taken steps to make the city a safer place to live, work and play.

Chairperson of the Public Safety and Community Order Committee, Councillor Graeme Mulholland, says local initiatives often help to reduce crime and injury.
“We want to recognise those who are working to limit crime and injury rates in Auckland. The work they do makes the city a safer place for all of us and the awards are a way of acknowledging the valuable work that is done in our community,” says Mr Mulholland.

“We will consider everything from a school road safety project, to a workplace injury prevention programme or a business security initiative. These awards are a great opportunity to reward innovative thinking and those who go the extra mile.”

The Public Safety and Community Order Committee will join forces with the NZ Police and the Injury Prevention Research Centre to judge the awards.
Mayor Dick Hubbard will present the winners with a special trophy at an awards ceremony at the Town Hall on 17 August.

“I would like to encourage people to nominate businesses, community groups, schools and individuals who have made a real difference in this area,” says Mr Hubbard.

“The winners will stand out as a shining example of what can be achieved to make our city a better place and we hope they will inspire others to adopt similar safety initiatives,” says Mr Mulholland.

To be eligible for the Auckland City awards a person, group or business needs to have introduced a community safety project (focusing on injury prevention, road safety or crime prevention) in the Auckland City Council area in the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006.

Award winners from last years’ inaugural awards included:
o The Chinese New Settlers Services Trust for their road safety project which addressed the issues of driver licensing, child car restraints use, and cycle helmet use.

o Mary Dobbyn for her project which addressed the issue of attacks on elderly people in Glen Innes. Ms Dobbyn ran an education programme with elderly people in the area and lobbied banks to change their practices to make banking safer for their older customers.

o Saras Nair and the Migrant Support Services Incorporated for their community based education initiative targeting seat belt use and child chair restraints by new refugees and immigrants travelling in motor vehicles.

o Mate Aria for her long-term passion and commitment to a broad range of injury prevention issues in the Otahuhu community.

Nominations close on 14 June. Copies of the application form are available from Auckland City service centres, your local library, by phoning (09) 379 2020 or visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/projects for more information.

Ends

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