The founder of a South Auckland charity group dubbed The Aunties has won the top honour at the Women of Influence Awards.
Jackie Clark set up the not-for-profit organisation six years ago to help vulnerable women and children who've experienced domestic violence.
The group's primary aim is to provide material needs to those they support.
"The Aunties believe everyone has the right to be safe, to have shelter, to be fed, to be loved, to dream, to read, to write, to have their say, and to be heard," the group proclaims on its Givealittle page. "Where any of those things are missing, the Aunties mission is to help provide them - the practical things, and also in terms of advocacy and pastoral care."
The group says it believes in manaakitanga - protecting the mana of the people they help so that they can find their way towards living independently, and with dignity and joy.
"Jackie and her fellow Aunties give without seeking anything in return and without judgement," said Westpac NZ chief executive David McLean, whose company co-sponsors the Women of Influence Awards. "She, and her core of other Aunties, ask vulnerable women what they need and then set about making it happen, in a completely selfless way.
"They have made an enormous contribution to our local communities at grassroots level."
The award ceremony was held last night at SkyCity in Auckland.
Here's the full list of winners:
Supreme Winner: Jackie Clark
Lifetime Achievement: Theresa Gattung
Arts and Culture: Miranda Harcourt
Board and Management: Dr Farah Palmer
Business and Enterprise: Angie Judge
Rural: Rebecca Keoghan
Public Policy: Charlotte Korte
Community/Not for Profit: Jackie Clark
Innovation and Science: Professor Wendy Larner
Diversity: Sarah Lang
Global: Sarah Vrede
Young Leader: Maddison McQueen-Davies
Some resident in Central Otago's Glenorchy are still without power 48 hours after a spring snowfall caused major disruptions in the deep south.
Eleven properties remains with power this morning.
Aurora Energy is hoping to have power restored to the area by this evening.
A Kiwi artist are architect is using a pyramid in central Auckland to spread some joy.
Matt Liggins has made it his mission to ask people what makes them smile, but instead of rolling up to you on the street he's built a pyramid to help lighten people's moods.
TVNZ1's Seven Sharp's Lucas de Jong went along to take a look and share a laugh in the video above.
A transgender caretaker at a Wellington school has been using her musical talents to brighten up the kids' days.
Molly Mason was born as Michael, but soon discovered she was a female born in a man's body.
"I believe I'm a woman, and I associate as a woman, so I live my life as a woman," Molly told TVNZ1's Seven Sharp.
Molly has a love of music that began when she was just six.
Now, in her role as caretaker at a Wellington school, she uses her talent to good effect by beat boxing with the kids at lunchtime.
"When I realised that beat boxing and making sounds was something I couldn't live without, that was it, nothing else mattered."
However, to be this woman - that little boy Michael, had a fight on his hands.
"I got bullied from primary school right through until the day I left college and left Blenheim."
Molly is now proud to be transgender and says the stage is her safe place. She performs as her drag alter ego called Bette Noir.
"Anything that makes me sad, makes me worried, makes me scared, anything that I find stressful, it's not there, it's gone."
