TE TOHU MAIMOA WINNERS
See the previous winners of this award here.
2025
Rukmini (Mini)
Owner, Māmā Mini's
Known affectionately as "Mini", Rukmini is a tireless force for good in the Manawatū animal welfare community. Whether responding to calls about found animals, rescuing pets or offering practical support to those struggling to care for their companions, Mini is always ready to help.
She works closely with local services offering vital care for abused and neglected animals. Her initiatives – such as food drives for pet guardians in need and low-cost microchipping events – break down barriers to responsible pet care and provide dignity to both pets and people. Mini’s community describes her as strong, caring, generous – and a true rescue warrior.
Maria Alomajan
Owner of Canine by Nature
Maria Alomajan has shown unwavering dedication to improving canine welfare through education - locally and globally. As the owner of Canine by Nature, Maria integrates ethical, evidence-based behaviour training into every aspect of her work. Her belief in agency for all animals, force-free approaches, and empathetic dialogue drives her mission to empower both pets and people.
Her impact spans continents. A two-part lecture series for vet nurses through NZVNA and Vet Education reached over 1,300 participants worldwide, helping professionals better support puppies and their guardians. Maria also provides expert behavioural content for PD Insurance and DOC’s Lead the Way programme - creating practical, accessible media that raises awareness of dog behaviour and care.
Charlotte Koppes
DogWatch
At DogWatch in Christchurch, Charlotte Koppes has transformed foster care through innovation, compassion, and tireless mentorship. Her work has directly improved neonatal care, in-shelter microchipping practices, and outcomes for foster placements.
Charlotte goes out of her way to support new foster carers – offering one-on-one guidance and emotional support to ensure each placement succeeds. Her training and encouragement have helped build a strong, resilient foster network that provides vulnerable animals with the best start in life.
Charlotte uplifts those around her, while her thoughtful, hands-on support reflects deep respect and compassion. From shelter innovation to nurturing community, Charlotte’s impact is both measurable and deeply felt.
2024
Rachael Maher
Founder of Paws4Life
Rachael Maher has been running Paws4Life for over a decade, dedicating herself to rescuing and caring for abandoned, injured, and stray cats and kittens. Her shelter is constantly full, reflecting her tireless 24/7 commitment to meeting the community's needs. Beyond her rescue work, Rachael has participated in meetings with the SPCA and Hamilton City Council, advocating for cat desexing and the humane treatment of strays. The Paws4Life Facebook page offers a glimpse into the continuous influx of strays ready for adoption, showcasing the incredible impact of her efforts.
Annette Buckley
Founder of Feline Fix
Annette Buckley’s work in animal welfare reaches far and wide. With a focus on controlling the stray cat population, she has helped desex over 760 cats since Feline Fix was formed. Her work includes running impactful Facebook campaigns and providing crucial support for urgent medical treatments, reflecting her dedication to reducing unwanted litters and improving the lives of vulnerable animals.
Zoey Jackson
Education and Engagement Officer, Waikato Pound Pups (WDC)
Zoey Jackson’s dedication to dog welfare shines through her work with Waikato Pound Pups. From her involvement with the ‘Take the Lead, Don’t Let Them Breed’ campaign to hands-on education in local schools, Zoey actively champions responsible pet ownership. Her ‘Dirty Dog Challenge’ and ‘Pound Pups Pool Parties’ fundraisers are not only fun but also crucial in supporting desexing and rehoming initiatives. With an extensive online community of over 26,000 followers, Zoey’s creative and passionate approach makes her a beloved advocate for dog welfare in the Waikato community.
Sarah Christie
Founder of Pet Whisperer Rescue
Sarah Christie, founder of Pet Whisperer Rescue, has dedicated herself to supporting stray and lost cats in Auckland through initiatives such as colony feeding, trap-neuter-return programmes, and rehoming rehabilitated strays. Her collaboration with local businesses and the provision of desexing vouchers have made responsible pet ownership more accessible. Sarah’s tireless advocacy continues to make a meaningful impact on Auckland’s rescue efforts and the lives of countless cats.
2023
Dr Jess Beer
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion, Collective & Effective, Quality & Integrity’
Jess is an accredited veterinary behaviourist and the Founder and Director of Kiwi Vet Behaviour, a team of qualified trainers who provide compassionate and science-based services including veterinary behaviour consultations, training packages, educational workshops, and classes for dogs of all ages. Jess recently (January 2023) opened the first veterinary behaviour clinic in NZ, a facility where companion animals and their guardians can come together with professionals in a safe environment.
Jess’s passion for her work to help pets and their guardians succeed is clear, and she demonstrates all our core values in her drive to help achieve A Good Life for companion animals.
Thomas Henry
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion, Collective & Effective’
Thomas is a Māori Warden at the Otahuhu Māori Wardens Association and is a valued member of his community. During the recent weather events in the Auckland region, Thomas worked tirelessly collaborating with key organisations involved in the animal welfare response. His kindness and compassion provided support and reassurance to members of the flood-impacted communities of Auckland and his outreach work was instrumental in addressing the welfare needs of people and their animals in the affected communities.
Shelley Cocker
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion’
Shelley is the Nurse Manager at The Strand Veterinarian. Through her work using cooperative care,
Shelley is committed to ensuring her companion animal patients receive the best experience possible whilst in the clinic environment. Her work with more anxious companion animals and their guardians has a significant effect on the psychological, emotional, and physical wellbeing of these animals.
Shelley demonstrates respect and compassion on a daily basis and is a role model for the practical application of these values.
Julia Milley
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion, Collective & Effective’
Julia runs Queenstown Cat Rescue and is a dedicated and humble advocate for unwanted cats. She is well known and respected for her work with cats in the Wakatipu District and surrounding areas and is the go-to person for lost or stray cats in need. Julia coordinates and implements all aspects of rescue work, with a focus on reducing the stray cat population and is a strong advocate for desexing and microchipping of all companion and stray cats.
2022
Jay Johanssen
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Collective & Effective’
Jay is the Cattery Manager for Paws 4 Life, a registered charity that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes companion animals. Jay is a passionate advocate for unwanted companion animals and works with the public to educate and facilitate the removal of barriers to responsible pet ownership.
He and his team work hard to ensure over 2000 cats every year receive the shelter and care they need in the Waikato region. Jay is also proactive in helping to prevent and overcome problems. Earlier this year Jay helped establish an effective collaboration with other overwhelmed shelters in the Waikato that were struggling to remain open. These shelters worked together to use resources and strengths each had, for the greater good of the animals.
Roz Holland
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Collective & Effective’
Roz is altruistic in her passion for helping animals and genuinely wants what’s best for their welfare. As well as her day job, Roz works part-time as a veterinarian for the SPCA and is the Founder and Director of Animal Advocates Collective Impact NZ. This a fantastically simple yet effective initiative to raise money for animal charities. Members of the group donate a dollar a week and a different organisation is chosen on a weekly basis to receive the cumulated funds. This concept provides on average $1000 per week to an animal charity. With minimal cost to the individual resulting in a significant positive impact on organisations helping animals in New Zealand, this is an excellent example of Companion Animals NZ’s core value – Collective and Effective.
Leanne Simpkin
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’
Leanne is the Manager at the New Zealand Lost Pet Register, a free lost and found service that lists missing, found, stolen and impounded pets to help reunite them with their owners. This much-needed service is administered by a small team of volunteers who work remotely to cover New Zealand. Leanne embodies the Companion Animals NZ core value of Respect and Compassion, displaying empathy and compassion to both her team, and the companion animal guardians they provide assistance to. She leads by example, is professional, and provides support without judgment or bias. Leanne is a calming voice in the midst of what can be an emotional time for owners and her team.
Lucy Bell
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’
Lucy is the founder of Christchurch Rabbit Rescue, a non-profit rabbit rescue group, which rehomes abandoned, neglected or stray rabbits. Lucy is well known in the rabbit community for her dedication and personal commitment to improving the lives of companion rabbits. All rabbits that come into her care are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and provided with veterinary care before they are rehomed. Lucy goes above and beyond to make sure all rabbits find the forever homes most suited to them.
Amanda Fraser-Jones
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Collective & Effective’
Amanda is the founder and trustee of Chained Dog Rehabilitation and Rehoming, a registered charity based in Auckland. Amanda is committed and dedicated to empowering dog owners to improve the lives of their companion dogs by providing them with the tools and guidance to do so. Amanda and her team work hard to ensure that all companion dogs have their needs met, both physically and mentally. They work with council shelters around the country and rehome any dogs that need to find a new home.
Amanda strives to bring about change in how society views responsible dog ownership and focuses on education and legislation and collaboration with other animal welfare organisations to see how this can be achieved.
Julie Chapman
For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’
Julie is the founder and trustee of Pet Refuge, New Zealand's first shelter dedicated to temporarily housing companion animals affected by domestic violence. Julie and her team provide shelter and security for companion animals until they are able to reunite them with their owners. Owners know that their animals are safe while they start a new life free from domestic violence. Julie values the human/animal bond and provides hope for a future where companion animals and their owners can be safe and happy together.
2021
ALAN PARKER
Alan Parker
Alan Parker is the Founder and Director of Avian Rescue Otago, a not-for-profit bird rescue and rehabilitation centre in Alexandra. As a qualified veterinary nurse, Alan brings his medical expertise to providing care for all manner of feathered friends, from chickens and parrots to wild species such as hawks.
Alan is never one to give up when there’s a chance to save a life and is often found at all hours and places looking for injured or displaced birds that have been reported to him. As passionate about companion birds as he is about wildlife, Alan also offers a mobile avian vet nursing service to help the birds of Otago live a happy and healthy life.