3 Mar 2023

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Receiving a Community Service Award came as quite a surprise to Hornby’s Auntie Sally.

Sally Nutira, more commonly known as Auntie Sally, has become a known figure of support within her Hornby community.

“Our whānau have been a big part of Hornby with support in sports clubs, school Board of Trustee representatives, and Te Horomako O Te Huruhuru Kohanga Reo,” says Ms Nutira.

“My sister Rose, my father Ben, and Uncle Pat were representatives for Hornby High School and Hornby Primary, and I had a year with Hornby High School as the Māori rep.”

Ms Nutira became team manager and part of the clubs executive for Hornby Softball, later Royals Softball, a sports club both herself and her children were involved in.

“I am currently secretary of the Hornby Rugby League Club and Treasurer of the Hornby Rugby League Juniors. During those early years I was also a volunteer, along with many that were in management roles, for Canterbury Rugby League with age grade teams, as well as Southern Zone Rugby League.”

Ms Nutira says she was involved with Te Horomako O Te Huruhuru Kohanga Reo for over 35 years in various voluntary roles. “Treasurer, Secretary, Chairperson, whānau member when my children attended, to later in the years as a whānau support.

“I am a current Treasurer for the South Island Māori Netball Association, and I am involved with Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Ngāti Moki Marae as a whānau member.”

While she never expected anything in return, her community noticed her dedication, and multiple nominations came through for Ms Nutira to receive well-deserved recognition.

This support and volunteer work was acknowledged with a Christchurch City Council Community Service Award last year.

This year, Ms Nutira is helping to promote the awards, which open for nominations on Friday 3 March 2023.

Ms Nutira was born and bred in Hornby, apart from two years in Whakatāne in 1990 and 1991. “Hornby is home for me - a place where there’s family everywhere,” says Ms Nutira.

Ms Nutira says receiving this award was completely out of the blue for her. “I truly wasn’t expecting it, and was quite overwhelmed when I found out.”

Community Service Awards are a chance to give well-deserved recognition to the people who make our communities better places to live. It’s an opportunity to thank and honour volunteers for their dedication.

Nominations for our 2023 recipients open on Friday 3 March and close on Friday 31 March.