The 2021 Wellys Winners are...
The 2021 Wellingtonian of the Year - Teresea Olsen
TERESEA OLSEN is General Manager of Kokiri Marae Keriana Olsen Trust, an NGO providing advocacy and support to whanau, where she leads initiatives to vaccinate rural and vulnerable communities against Covid-19.
For example, she ran the Delta Bus, taking the vaccine to hard-to-reach residents throughout the Hutt Valley, and in October, vaccinated 60 people in Upper Hutt – 34 of whom received their first jab.
Teresea has also led and supported numerous foodbank initiatives throughout the Hutt Valley.
The 2021 Category Winners are:
Arts
in association with
WINNER - SAM TRUBRIDGE
Founder of The Performance Arcade, has been turning Wellington City into a theatre with lighting displays, giant projections and live performances.
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FINALISTS
THOMASIN HARCOURT McKENZIE is a “dazzlingly talented” 21-year-old actress, recently acclaimed for starring in Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho.
GERRY PAUL is an award-winning “jack-of-all-arts”. He toured the world for 16 years before founding Coastella and becoming the festival director of CubaDupa.
JOHN PSATHAS,“one of the most talented composers of his generation”, his music is performed by top musicians worldwide – even in Antarctica.
MATTHEW ROSS is an esteemed concertmaster and music director with an arts career spanning three decades. He is the founder of Wellington Opera.
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Business
in association with
WINNER: TIM BROWN
Chair of Wellington Airport and “the face of Infratil”, is retiring after 27 years as part of the team at this major investment company.
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FINALISTS
PREM AKKARAJU is CEO at Weta Digital. As well as the executive producer for 2021 Oscar-nominated film The White Tiger and hit doco Tommorrowland.
SIMON GATENBY is CEO of Taylor Preston, a Wellington-based meat processor that exports to over 60 countries annually.
TILLY LLOYD is the co-owner of Unity Books and “a nurturer of writers and publishers across the country”. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
HELMUT MODLIK is CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, bringing new and improved services and benefits to iwi in crucial areas.
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Community Service
in association with
WINNER: TERESEA OLSEN
General Manager of Kokiri Marae Keriana Olsen trust, an NGO providing advocacy and support to whanau.
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FINALISTS
FRANCIS FANNING has volunteered in the local community for around 45 years in a range of leadership and governance roles.
ROBYN HUNT is an award-winning communicator, journalist and disability activist. She co-founded Crip the Lit, ensuring the perspectives of disabled people are heard in mainstream writing.
SHIRLEY LANIGAN has been a nurse for six decades. She cared for victims of sexual assault, survivors of the Wahine Disaster and her late husband.
LIZ MELLISH is Deputy Chairman at Federation of Maori Authorities and Chairman of Te Raukura Te Wharewaka o Poneke, bringing Maori culture to Wellington's CBD.
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Education
in association with 
WINNER: JACQUI MAGUIRE
Clinical psychologist on a mission to destigmatize mental health and make evidenced-based support accessible to all New Zealanders.
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FINALISTS
MARIA BARGH is Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, researching and teaching Māori politics in the School of Māori Studies.
TONY HENDERSON-NEWPORT founded Rebel Business School Aotearoa, so that Kiwis starting their own business can kickstart their future and learn the ropes for free.
JANET LANE CEO of MITO NZ, inspiring collaborative partnerships with industry associations, corporate entities, employer networks and government agencies.
MANI MITCHELL is an intersex activist, raising awareness for intersex whanau and helping make mental health, sexual health and medical support more inclusive.
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Environment
in association with
WINNER - TERESE McLEOD
Champion of plastic-free cemeteries, campaigner for the personhood of Kaiwharawhara stream and Lead Ranger of Bicultural Engagement at Zealandia.
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FINALIST
ASH HOLWELL founded Aotearoa’s first climate positive coworking space - two/fiftyseven - Wellington’s leading sustainable, innovative and flexible space created to support community, collaboration, and impact.
TANYA JENNINGS-SMITH owns The Ekko Shop selling environmentally friendly and sustainable products and the area’s first “Bulk Food Refillery”.
NATALIE JONES founded Seasick Sunscreen, a sustainable, plastic free sunscreen, protecting both the user and environment from harm.
KENNET BROTHERS Paul, Simon and Jonathan - experts in restoration projects, pest control initiatives and sustainable mountain bike policy development.
MIKE RUMBLE is a conservationist and penguin expert. He volunteers for DoC, caring for Matiu Somes Island’s little blues, the smallest penguins in the world.
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Public Service
in association with
WINNER : PATSY REDDY
The former Governor-General of NZ, proudly serving as The Queen’s representative for the country and celebrating Kiwi's achievements.
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FINALISTS
VICKI ANNE HEIKELL is recognised as Aotearoa’s leading Maori Paper Conservator. She has spent decades preserving paper-based history and taonga.
ELAINE MYERS-DAVIES works with Veterans’ Affairs and is NZDF civilian staff (since 1981), dedicating her life to supporting and commemorating veterans.
JEFF SANDERS, a career spanning 40 years, working with community-based social services and NGOs, including IHC NZ, the Methodist Church, Relationships Aotearoa and Barnardos.
ANDY SWAIN is the medical director of Wellington Free Ambulance, Aotearoa’s only free ambulance service – responding to over 123,000 calls every year.
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Science & Technology
in association with
WINNER: BELINDA STOREY
The managing director of Climate Sigma, coining the term “insurance retreat”. She researches how we can avoid climate disasters.
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FINALISTS
KEVIN MARSHALL has served as an executive, director and chair of various food science and technology companies including NZFSSRC and the Riddet Institute.
TERRY MILLER is the Founder and CTO of Eight360, the tech startup that developed NOVA – a revolutionary VR motion simulator.
DIANNE SIKA-PAOTONU is an immunologist and a voice for the vulnerable on Covid-related issues and the fight against misinformation regarding the vaccine.
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Sport
in association with 
WINNER: PHILLIP WILSON
Member of New Zealand’s men’s eight rowing team, winning gold at Tokyo Olympics 2020.
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FINALISTS
JORDIE BARRETT plays as a utility back for the All Blacks – 506 points in 72 matches – and the Hurricanes – 261 points in 48 Super Rugby games.
DEVON CONWAY is a left-hand batsman for the Black Caps and Wellington Firebirds. He scored a double-hundred on his Test debut at Lord’s.
SOPHIE DEVINE Captained the Perth Scorchers to Australia’s Big Bash League championship and named as captain of the team of tournament.
BETH ROSS is a member of New Zealand's women’s eight rowing team, winning silver at Tokyo Olympics 2020.
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Youth
in association with
WINNER: ALEX STEWART
Founder of WombatNET, has been bringing high-speed internet access to hundreds of households in the Hutt Valley.
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FINALISTS
JAISTONE FINAU National President of Tauira Pasifika, Living Wage Campaigner and successfully driving vaccination rates for Pasifika youth.
JESS JENKINS is a co-founder of Multiethnic Young Leaders NZ, Race Unity National Coordinator, APEC 2021 International Delegate and will attend Harvard.
SONNY NGATAI has been teaching te reo Maori phrases and places names through his te reo “taster” TikTok videos.
BEN WAINE is a breakout 2020/21 A-League season with the Wellington Phoenix, scoring six goals and represented NZ at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
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