Kiwibank Local Hero Award

On Tuesday evening I was honoured to receive the Kiwibank Local Hero award for our work with The Green Room Charitable Trust. 

I was completely speechless as I stood in the Team NZ headquarters in the Viaduct surrounded by such humbling and inspiring people from our community. 

We started the Green Room 2 years ago when I saw noticeable differences in a few of our students suffering from anxiety and depression after their music lessons. 

This sparked an idea to start a music program available to everyone and anyone struggling with mental health as making music has such positive and powerful effects. A wonderful outlet to express, connect and find balance. 

I want to say a big thank you to Nick Douch, Jesse Reeves, Brayden Jeffrey and Joop Boumeester for all their help and support over the past 2 years. I couldn’t have done any of this without them. Their work with the kids is changing lives and making such a massive impact. I’m so privileged to call them friends and colleagues. 

Just last week a child said “[The Green Room] is the one place that I can be whoever I want to be without any judgement”.

These kids are incredible and I feel so lucky to make music with them each week! 

For more information on the Green Room please visit: www.greenroom.org.nz