CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS IN NEW ZEALAND’S DISABILITY COMMUNITY
Pictured: Last year’s Attitude ACC Supreme Award winner Martine Abel-Williamson
Today the Attitude Awards begin the hunt for this year’s high achievers who are taking on the world and its perception of disability.
With nominations open until Monday 22nd July, the Attitude Awards celebrate the achievements and excellence of New Zealanders living with disabilities, recognising athletes, employers, employees, young people and game-changers.
2018’s Attitude ACC Supreme Award winner was Martine Abel-Williamson, who was recognised for her longstanding support and advocacy for the New Zealand blind community. Martine (47) is blind and has been an advocate, lecturer and policy advisor for New Zealand’s disability sector for more than 20 years. She emotionally accepted the top award in November last year in front of a sell-out crowd of family, friends and supporters from across the disability community.
Now in its 12th year, the Attitude Awards have nine categories including Youth Spirit, Leadership, Support Superstar, Employer and Entrepreneur Award. This year’s awards will take place on Friday 22nd November with a black-tie gala dinner at Auckland’s Sky City.
Chair of the Attitude Trust and former captain of the New Zealand Wheel Blacks, Dan Buckingham, says the annual awards are one of a kind:
“The Attitude Awards are incredibly special, celebrating the outstanding stories and successes of New Zealanders living with disabilities. Year after year, our finalists bring tales of tenacity and drive, shifting perceptions about this diverse sector of society. The Awards are a chance to recognise our unsung heroes. We’d love for Kiwis to put forward friends, co-workers, family members and people from their community who they think deserve recognition at the 2019 Attitude Awards.”
2018 winners also included Entrepreneur Award-winner fashion designer Cruze Kapa, Para-climber Rachel Maia who took home the Emerging Athlete Award, and Joanne Schoales and Dayaram Ganda from BP2go in Greymouth who were awarded the Attitude ACC Employer Award.
ACC is once again principal sponsor for the awards. ACC Chief Executive Scott Pickering commented: “The Attitude Awards are a great opportunity to recognise and reflect on the huge contribution Kiwis with disabilities make to our society. We’re proud sponsors who stand in awe at the remarkable achievements these awards celebrate. I encourage people to nominate friends, family, employers, and colleagues for an Attitude Award and to be part of this wonderful event.”
Other sponsors and supporters for the awards are The Lion Foundation, Air New Zealand, Barfoot and Thompson, Datacom, APM, Ricoh, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health and HealthCare NZ.
With thanks to NZ on Air, the Attitude Awards will air as an hour-long television special on TVNZ1, packed with entertainment, winners, and highlights from the night.
For nomination information and entry forms go to www.attitudeawards.org. Nominations close on Monday 22nd July and finalists will be announced in late August. Winners will be unveiled at a glitzy black-tie gala for more than 600 people on Friday November 22ndNovember at Auckland’s Sky City.
The nine categories are: Youth Spirit, Spirit of Attitude, Support Superstar, Leadership, Paralympian of the Decade, Employee of the Year, Making a Difference, Entrepreneur and Attitude ACC Employer Award.