Our local heroes
Te Toka Tumai Auckland local heroes are kaimahi who go above and beyond for patients and their whānau, colleagues or the community.
Do you know someone who fits the bill? Please show your appreciation by nominating them as our latest local hero.
On this page
Our local hero winners
Moana's culturally grounded approach creates a sense of connection and safety.
Recently, Moana demonstrated incredible mana in a challenging situation, using her knowledge of te reo and tikanga to guide others, defuse tension, and bring a calming presence.
She brings this strength and presence to all her interactions and is a trusted and valued member of our clinical nurse manager team.
The sterile science services team at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical centre are an amazing group of hardworking and committed kaimahi.
They consistently go above and beyond to keep things on track, even during challenging circumstances.
Their teamwork makes a huge difference to our hospitals and ensures we can continue to provide the best care for our patients, whānau and communities.
Thank you for your mahi, team.
Katie is a medical imaging technologist and dedicated tutor who goes above and beyond for her patients, students, and team.
She creates a safe, supportive learning environment, brings warmth and reassurance to her patients especially the little ones and is a constant source of positivity and support for her colleagues.
Her compassion, energy, and commitment make her truly one of a kind.
Valerie is the heart of the ORL Outpatient Clinic, offering unwavering care and support to staff and patients alike. Her warmth and kindness extend to everyone she meets, always greeting others with a smile and a kind word.
She goes above and beyond to ensure patients feel comfortable, whether guiding them through the clinic, offering tea and biscuits, or simply providing a listening ear.
Valerie's dedication creates a welcoming, home-like environment, and we deeply appreciate all she does for us and our patients.
Che is the sole staff and manager at Awhi Oranga, yet she always attends Kai Arahi Navigate sessions, supports our To Thrive kaimahi, and travels to Greenlane Clinical Centre to assist Greenlane kaimahi, ensuring travel is no barrier to support.
Despite her workload, she always makes time to listen, offer advice, and guide staff. Many kaimahi praise Awhi Oranga as a welcoming, judgment-free space to relax, have a cuppa, and enjoy breakfast.
New kaimahi, often unfamiliar with the healthcare industry, greatly benefit from Che’s guidance and support at Te Toka Tumai.
Karan has excelled in supporting the implementation and technical maintenance of eNotes across the four Mana Awhi wards - Awatea, Marino, Remuera, Rangitoto.
Karan proactively organised functional devices and staff training, ensuring the team is well equipped and confident using eNotes.
Karan has gone above and beyond to work closely with the IT team, Project team, and Mana Awhi staff. His efforts played a key role in making this project a successful endeavour.
Nominate a local hero
Find out more
Anyone in our team can be nominated as a local hero. This includes the clinical people providing direct care, as well as the support staff, those behind the scenes and our many volunteers.
Patients, whānau of patients and visitors or kaimahi can all nominate their local hero. It could be someone who always has a smile, takes a patient to their location or makes work a better place.
You can nominate your local hero online. Printed nomination cards are also available in key locations in our hospital buildings. local heroes post boxes are located at the main reception area at Greenlane Clinical Centre or Auckland City Hospital where you can post your local heroes nomination card.
Everyone nominated as a local hero will receive a note of thanks on your behalf. Every month, we will look at all the nominations received and from those we will select one to receive a special award.
Those nominated and the winner will be featured on social media and across our sites so we can share the stories of our local heroes with our community.
If you have any questions about the local heroes process, please email localheroes@adhb.govt.nz.