Annie Scoon: 2024 Civic Honour Award winner

Published on 05 December 2024

“I don’t mind doing the mahi” – Annie Scoon

In various roles, across multiple organisations, over four decades Annie Scoon - affectionately known as “Nan”, "Mama Annie" and “Teina” - has maintained strong connections to her communities. Whether that’s Palmerston North’s Cook Island and Pasifika communities or the softball community, Annie has been a pioneer and a role model. That’s despite working from a wheelchair following a car accident in 1974.

A board member and operations manager of the Papaiōea Pasifika Community Trust (PPCT), Annie spearheaded the Matua Ola programme in support of its elderly members. She’s supported Pasifika Health Clinics and the development of the Pasifika Hub in the Bill Brown Park Hall. During Cook Island Language Week she connects with schools, tertiary institutions and other Pasifika Communities to offer Pacific language classes and cultural workshops.

As chair of the Kuki Airani o Manawatū Trust, Annie launched fundraising efforts in March 2024 for new traditional drums.

A former member of Manawatū-Whanganui Women's P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A., Annie still provides a welcoming and supportive environment in her own home for women who need it.

Annie’s ongoing relationship with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples highlights the leadership, drive, resourcefulness, and creativity that she applies to community activities in support of Pasifika communities across the region.

Since age 10, softball has been Annie’s great sporting love. For the past 48 years from her wheelchair, she has served the game as a coach, team manager, and as a chief scorer for local, NZ Army, NZ Combined Services, and for national tournaments. In 1984 Annie co-founded Palmerston North’s Raiders Softball Club.

Made a Life Member of the Manawatū Softball Association in 2019, Annie had input into the upgrade of the Colquhoun Park diamonds where Palmy hosted the 2020 U-18 Men’s World Cup Softball Tournament - the first New Zealand provincial centre to hold such a prestigious international tournament.

As a paraplegic Annie competed in shot put, javelin, discus, archery, and table tennis, winning an international gold medal in shot put and setting national and world records.

Her remarkable and consistent record of administrative, organisational, cultural and sporting achievement has made a huge contribution to community cohesion and wellbeing.