2016 Recipients

Wellingtonion of the Year and Sports Category Winner

Dane Coles

Dane Coles plays at hooker for the Hurricanes and was a member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks. But most importanly he captained the Hurricanes to their maiden Super Rugby title this year.

Arts Winner

Ray Henwood

Ray Henwood has spent a lifetime pretending to be other people and taking millions of transfixed viewers along for the ride. Circa Theatre celebrates its 40th birthday this year, and Ray was intimately involved in its conception and is still playing lead roles.

Business Winner

Chris Wilkinson

Chris Wilkinson is the founder of First Retail Group, a consultancy that advises retail chains, property owners and governments on strategy, performance and risk. From starting his first store at the age of 19, Chris’ business now works across the globe.

Community Service Winner

Stephanie McIntyre

Stephanie McIntyre is director of the Downtown Community Ministry. She’s been a long-time advocate for social justice and has built DCM into an organisation providing practical help for people living on the streets while addressing the underlying issues of homelessness.

Education Winner

John Fiso

John Fiso was till recently the owner and CEO of the New Zealand Institute of Sport and New Zealand College of Massage. From its early days with just 18 students in Porirua, John built the Institute into a thriving organisation with campuses in three major cities.

Environment Winner

Kelvin Hastie

Kelvin Hastie is the Crofton Downs resident who saw a weasel walking down his street one day and got angry. After a one-year trapping campaign, Crofton Downs is predator-free and Kelvin’s now NEXT’s Predator Free Community Champion looking to do the same across Wellington.

Government Winner

Kerry Prendergast

Kerry Prendergast, former Mayor of Wellington, is still very busy in our community. She chairs Tourism NZ, EPA, NZ Film Commission, and, until recently, the NZ Festival; and is on boards like Wellington Free Ambulance.

Science & Technology Winner

Dr Nancy Bertler

Nancy Bertler, Associate Professor at the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University and GNS Science, is a pioneer of climate research. Nancy has led 13 expeditions to Antarctica, and manages the New Zealand Ice Core Research Laboratory at GNS Science.

World Welly - Tribute

Rebecca Gibney

Wellington actress, writer, and producer Rebecca Gibney kicked off her career in the kidult tv series Sea Urchins and hasn’t looked back, with hit shows like Packed to the Rafters and our very own Sensing Murder – Rebecca Gibney - a world class Wellingtonian.

Youth Winner

Benjamin Bell

Benjamin Bell is a 17-year-old entrepreneur. Recently Ben presented his project Wellbands at Stanford MedicineX in California, ran a Startup Weekend event, presented a TEDx talk and was the youngest participant in the R9 Accelerator 2.0.