Invercargill’s local community hero Janice Lee founder of Kohi Kai is a finalist in the New Zealander of the Year awards for the Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year award section.
whatsoninvers.nz asked janice for a comment…..How am I feeling…. bewildered and incredibly honoured, and grateful to my husband and family for their tolerance and support, and to the Koha Kai Team – everyone from our Board of Trustees to the newest Trainee – only by their grace am I even in the running.
Janice founded Koha Kai in 2014, an organisation focused on training people with disabilities that prepare hot lunches at low decile Invercargill schools, with a goal to show that people with disabilities can achieve and work within greater community.
Early January, the judging panel – comprising representatives of all the awards patrons, presenters, sponsors, community leaders and independent experts – will announce the final shortlist of the three Kiwis being considered for the 2018 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year title and the other category finalists.
The winner will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala in Auckland on February 22.
Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year (finalists)
- Joseph Fa’afiu (Auckland)
- Ricky Houghton (Kaitaia)
- Dave Letele (Auckland
- Janice Lee (Invercargill)
- Mohamud Mohamed (Auckland)
- Alexandra Nicholas (Auckland)
- Pamela Anne O’Keefe (Hastings)
- David Rule (Auckland)
- Farida Sultana (Wellington)
- Caine Warren (Auckland)