The ‘unsung heroes’ among finalists in Welly Awards

Monday, 26 February 2024

Wellington Phoenix’s No 1 goalkeeper Alex Paulsen is a finalist in the youth category for the Wellingtonian of the Year Awards.

The former owner of an iconic Cuba St music venue and Wellington Phoenix’s No 1 goalkeeper are among over 40 finalists for the Wellingtonian of the Year Awards.

And this year, a 10th category — heritage — was introduced for the first time, event director John Dow said.

Alex Paulsen was a finalist in the youth category, playing as Wellington Phoenix’s goalkeeper as the team hold on to their position as top of the table in the men’s A-league.

Also in the youth category were rangatahi Māori human rights activist Te Matahiapo Hynes and now Ivy League University student and top rower Tai Renner.

White Fern Amelia Kerr was nominated as a finalist in the sports category after being nominated in the youth category last year.

Ziggy Ziya of San Fran is a finalist in the business category.

Meanwhile, Ziggy Ziya — former owner of Cuba St’s San Fran, and event marketing manager for the venue — was a finalist in the business category.

Ziya was among many “unsung heroes”, Dow said, acknowledging the challenging environment businesses faced with the impacts of Covid-19 to keep establishments afloat.

“We’ve got to rally around these people at the moment.”

It will be the 35th year of the Wellingtonian of the Year Awards, which began in 1989, and the 20th year Dow has been involved with the event.

Each year brought a new group of finalists, from extraordinary talent with global recognition to those who “cover a lot of territory, looking after people in our community” on the ground who would otherwise lack widespread recognition.

“They are people who are real and authentically going about their lives and making a difference.”

Last year, Ralph Highnam, the founder of an internationally successful business screening millions of women for breast cancer across the world, was named the Wellingtonian of the Year.

The Post 2023 Wellingtonian of the Year Awards will be held at the Embassy Theatre on March 27.

All finalists will be profiled and acknowledged at the awards night, at which the 10 category winners will be announced as well as winners of the overall Wellingtonian of the Year, the World Class Welly and the third Jemima Gazley Spirit of Wellington Awards.

Wellingtonian of the Year finalists:

Arts: Ewen Coleman, Tupe Lualua, Colleen McColl, Dennis Yoo.

Business: Bill Chatwin, Kristy Grant, Frances Shoemack, Ziggy Ziya.

Community Service: Heniaka August, Paul Thomas Gibson, Ian James, Kristeen Johnston, Euon Murrell, Rosemary Wilkinson.

Education: Rod Baxter, Pamela Hanna, Ian Hastie, Cherie Maria Chu-Fuluifaga, Sunita Narayan.

Environment: Sally Bain, Pete Gillespie, Christopher MacLean, Angus Simm and Katie Jackson.

Public Service: Carlotta Dann, Handunnethi “Kolitha” de Silva, Ria Earp, Russel Postlewaight.

Science and Technology: Troy Dougherty, Joanne Hewitt, Ratu Mataira, Emily Parker.

Youth: Hadi Daoud and Owyn Aitken, Elisa Harley, Alex Paulsen, Te Matahiapo Hynes, Tai Renner.

Sport: Amelia Kerr, Jason Pine, Rachin Ravindra, Alex Rufer, Ardie Savea.

Heritage: Alastair Cattanach, Jane Kelly, John Martin, Liz Mellish, Joanna Newman.

Correction: Ziggy Ziya is a former owner of San Fran, and is event marketing manager. An earlier version of this story said he was an owner. (Amended February 26, 2024, 11.10am)