Senior New Zealander of the Year Award
For the second year in a row, Countdown is proud to support the New Zealander of the Year Awards which recognise the achievements of individuals, organisations and community groups who make a difference to our country. Countdown sponsors the Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year award which celebrates the achievements of Kiwi’s aged 60 and over.
2012 Senior New Zealander of the Year
The winner was announced at a gala dinner on Thursday 16th February in Auckland. A big congratulations to Malcolm Cameron of Dunedin, who took out the title.
Malcolm Cameron, Dunedin 
Malcolm is the founder of the Malcam Charitable Trust, a major provider of Youth Development and Transitional Support Programmes in the Otago Region. Malcolm is a social entrepreneur and a leader in creating partnerships and developing management systems that support new community initiatives. He has given support and mentorship to other young social innovators and community groups and has worked hard to weave together community, government and business organisations to ensure young people have opportunities for work and education.
2012 Senior New Zealander of the Year, Malcolm Cameron, accepting his award from Countdown Supermarkets Managing Director, Dave Chambers.
The other two making up the three finalists, which were announced in January, were Pat Magill of Napier, and Don McKenzie of Waiheke Island.
Pat Magill, Napier 
Pat has made an immense contribution to the community sector in Napier and Hawkes Bay. In the 1980s he was part of a group that invited several academics to study and make recommendations to develop and expand the community sector in the city. This lead to the development of Citizens Advice and 200 Neighbourhood Support groups in Napier. Pat also set up the Napier Pilot City Trust as a vehicle to undertake many of the other recommendations. Pat has worked tirelessly over the last 30 years with everything involved with the trust. He has led or assisted to organise an amazing range of events including an annual Unity Week celebration, Unity Walk, Pilot City Awards, Robson Lecture, Treaty of Waitangi workshops, community seminars, court support and children’s holiday programmes.
Don Mckenzie, Waiheke Island 
Since losing his sight at the age of five, Don has dedicated his life to helping those in need despite being unable to do many of the things we take for granted.
Don has given his time and commitment to countless organisations, having served for more than 15 organisations in the physiotherapy, blind and disabled sectors throughout his lifetime. Don worked as a physiotherapist, owning his own practice for 40 years and even now at the tender age of 73 he is still helping the locals of Waiheke Island by treating their different aches and pains.
He has helped others with vision impairments through serving on the board of the Royal Foundation of the Blind for 28 years and being the Chair for 18 of those. He is currently the Chair of the Vision 2020 Trust which is committed to the prevention of blindness and vision loss in New Zealand.
2011 Senior New Zealander of the Year
Alison Neill, ‘The Angel of Fairlie’, was named Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year for 2011.
Alison is an inspirational woman who has spent over 30 years caring for elderly people in need. A registered nurse she has become known as ‘The Angel of Fairlie’ after founding Moreh, a not for profit residential facility for the elderly and infirm.
Since Moreh opened in 1979, Alison has provided care for more than 300 people – never taking payment for her work. Although she is now in her 78th year and older than some of her residents, Alison is still up many nights attending to their needs.
Alison Neill, 'The Angel of Fairlie', with Dave Chambers, Managing Director for Countdown, who presented her with the award as Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year 2011.
