Community
Southland firefighter Kiel Brodie has received the Community Service and Engagement Award at the Regional Ngā Tohu Raukura Awards for his contribution beyond firefighting.
Brodie coaches school and community rugby, runs a local rugby league club, and is part of the team behind the Southland Community Challenge — an initiative that brings first responders, businesses and the wider community together to raise funds for Southland charities.
Built around the Surf to City event, the Challenge sees firefighters, police and St John carry a Stokes Basket from Oreti Beach to Queens Park, with the weight increasing as donations grow. In 2026, the team carried 115 kilograms. Every dollar raised stays in the region.
Hospice South is the Challenge's legacy charity partner, alongside KiwiHarvest Southland and The Grace Street Project in 2026. In 2027, Deer to Care and Koru Care Southland will join the cause, supporting local families through food assistance and experiences for children facing serious health challenges.
"Southland is a pretty special place. You don't have to look far to find someone willing to roll up their sleeves and help out. The Community Challenge is proof of that.
"I'm lucky to have good people around me who are just as passionate about making things happen. This award might have my name on it, but none of this happens without them," Brodie says.
Brodie is also a co-founder of the Second Responder Charitable Trust, established by first responders who see firsthand the hardship people face after requiring a first responder and want to do more. The Trust aims to provide support beyond the immediate emergency, helping people and families with what comes next.
Hospice South chief executive Pete Thompson said the recognition was thoroughly deserved.
"Kiel is one of those people who doesn't just talk about making a difference. He gets out and does it.
"What he's created along with the team of First Responders with the Southland Community Challenge is something really special. He's turned an idea into an opportunity for the whole region to support organisations like ours.
"As the legacy charity partner, we're incredibly grateful. Hospice South relies heavily on community generosity, and Kiel has found a way to bring people together to make a genuine difference," Thompson says.