Southern Battler Wanted

Gareth Morgan was riding his motorbike in the Andes when he had his latest brainwave – a competition to recognise Kiwi Battlers who go the extra mile.

When internet auction site Trade Me was sold to Fairfax Media in 2006, Mr Morgan decided his share of the sale ($47 million) would go to charity. The Morgan Foundation has been running a Kiwi Heroes programme, recognising New Zealanders who are working overseas, and helping them out financially. "Kiwi Heroes is New Zealanders overseas doing cool things," Mr Morgan said. "When we first set it up we thought we'd back Kiwis, but back them up overseas in really tough environments."

A map on the Morgan Foundation website shows the places Kiwi Heroes are making a mark, and includes Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal and Pakistan. "Quite a few of these people we are backing all have great stories, they are amazing people with unbelievable sort of stories," he said. "I was riding my motorbike in the Andes and I thought, `Why not do the same sort of thing in New Zealand?"'

And Kiwi Battlers was born.

The competition is to find and reward New Zealanders who "go the extra mile, overcome obstacles and achieve results – not for themselves, but for their communities".

"Communities are really important things, and in New Zealand we take them for granted," he said. Mr Morgan said there were lots of people doing selfless things in New Zealand communities, and was a call to all Kiwis. "Most people know someone where they look at what they do and wish they had what it takes to do that," he said.

The Kiwi Battlers competition is run in conjunction with The Southland Times in the south and nominations close on July 27. Nominees can be everyday people who make a difference, people who have the "wow factor" to make their community a better place.

Each region will have a Kiwi Battler winner, who will be given $1000, and $10,000 to a charity of their choice. A national winner will then be selected, receiving an additional $2000 and $20,000 for a charity of their choice. Regional winners will be decided by public vote, with a national panel choosing the National Kiwi Battler.

More information is available on www.kiwibattler.com