2026 Recipients

If you've watched Stratford hockey lately, chances are you've seen Lily between the posts. Now in her sixth year of hockey, it's fair to say the sport has shaped her. A goalkeeper for three Stratford club teams as well as the Taranaki U18 rep side, she's the kind of player who's just as focused on the players coming up behind her. She coaches a Year 3 and 4 team and the club's junior goalkeepers, and sits on the Stratford Hockey Junior Board to help shape how the next generation is brought through.

That instinct to pass things on shows up everywhere else in Lily's life too. Lily has spent three years on the Youth Council, serves as Secretary of the Stratford High School Student Council, sits on the Sports Council, and leads the SADD (Students Against Dangerous Driving) committee. Through Young Enterprise she launched a social enterprise producing scam awareness fridge magnets to help protect older people in the community.

Lily also gives her time at Bridge Café, has earned her Student Volunteer Army Bronze award, and is part of Mountain View Youth Group, all while balancing a busy family life at home.

Thank you, Lily, for the care you bring to this community and to the players coming up behind you. Congratulations.

Ask around Stratford High School and Hunta's name comes up fast. He's Head Boy of Stratford High School and Co Chair of the Stratford District Youth Council, roles that have him representing his peers both inside the school gates and at the council table. He's someone people naturally turn to, and it shows in how often he's asked to step up.

He's also a strong performer, named Best Vocalist and Most Polished Performer at the Lions Music Awards, and taking on the role of Sam in the school's production of Mamma Mia. He's also a natural on his feet in front of a crowd, delivering this year's ANZAC Day address to the whole community with real composure.

With 182 volunteer hours logged, Hunta has led the beloved, decades old annual youth Easter Camp for two years running. He has also given time to his youth group, tutored other students, and worked at Rawhitiroa Primary. This year, he was invited to contribute to the Percy Thomson Gallery's Raindrops on Roses exhibition.

Thank you, Hunta, for putting your hand up for everything and bringing others along with you. Congratulations.

Mention Whangamomona and Vanessa's name is rarely far behind. She's been part of the Republic since it began in 1989, moving through the roles of treasurer, secretary and now chairperson over more than three decades. She helped lead the township's makeover, and has been one of the steady hands keeping the Republic's spirit alive ever since.

She sits on the Domain Board, which looks after the campground and led the ablution block upgrade, and was instrumental in bringing the Tahora Hall back into everyday use for the community. On top of this, Vanessa used to serve on the Tahora School Board of Trustees, works as a teacher's aide, and drives the school bus.

A trained first responder, Vanessa holds the area's first aid and defibrillator gear, on call for locals and travellers on the Forgotten World Highway alike, a genuinely remote stretch of road where that kind of readiness matters. She also organises Republic Day, and is involved in the Critter Hunt, the Christmas parade, the bike ride and more, close to 40 years of keeping a small community's calendar alive.

Thank you for nearly four decades at the heart of Whangamomona, Vanessa. Congratulations.

Spend any time courtside at Stratford netball and you'll likely spot Darleena, who has given more than 30 years to the game, as a player, a coach and a badged Umpire Coach and Assessor. She started coaching at just 15, and hasn't really stopped since.

She's poured years into the Steelformers club, fundraising, storing gear at her own house, and mending uniforms, helping build a club that feels more like whānau than a team. That work has contributed to three Club of the Year titles and earned Darleena Life Membership in 2024. She also sits on the Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund committee, helping young players get to where they need to be.

True to her character, Darleena quietly pays registrations and donates gear so kids who couldn't otherwise afford it can still play, no fuss, no fanfare. Beyond netball she has given time to Victim Support, is an inaugural trustee of the Central Taranaki Safe Community Trust, and is involved with the Stratford Lions and Kings Theatre. She has also lent her support directly to Council over the years.

Thank you, Darleena, for a lifetime spent growing other people. Congratulations.

You may have heard Miranda's name well beyond Stratford by now. She founded the 800 Trust in 2019, working alongside Ngāti Maru, local rangatahi, scientists and the Department of Conservation to restore retired farmland in eastern Taranaki. What started as one project has grown into one of the district's most significant conservation efforts.

The scale speaks for itself. More than 28,000 native trees planted in the past year alone, alongside predator control that is protecting kiwi, fernbird, bats and frogs right here in eastern Taranaki. Miranda also trains rangatahi for careers in conservation, building capability that stays in the district long after any one project ends.

She led the development of Hark, a solar powered AI acoustic monitoring system built in partnership with Ngāti Maru, the University of Auckland and the Department of Conservation, which picked up a national Hi Tech award in 2026. The work is drawing attention right across the country, but it's rooted firmly in Stratford district land, and in the people who call it home.

Thank you, Miranda, for bringing community, science and deep care for this place together. Congratulations.