It's the face, the voice and the conscience of Papamoa. If it is said or it happens in and around Papamoa then invariably it's on the Papamoa, New Zealand Facebook page.

So after nine years of service to the city's biggest and fastest-growing suburb, the Papamoa Facebook page has been nominated for a 2016 Trustpower Tauranga Community Award.

Papamoa administrator Rosalie Crawford on her patch. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

'I think this is possibly the first time an actual Facebook page has been nominated for one of these awards,” says the page's colourful and high profile Rosalie Crawford, who along with Bernard Golder, is the administrator of the Papamoa Facebook page.

'We have helped find stolen property, burglars and pets. We even had a whale alert, which prompted 20 to 40 people to turn up within minutes to help refloat the whale and steer it back out to sea.”

Rosalie says the Papamoa Facebook page has a clear strategy for linking up people, focussing on the social aspects of caring for each other, showcasing the region and taking care of the environment and wildlife.

'For example, we played a crucial role in the co-ordination of volunteers removing Rena oil from the beaches.”

And even though Papamoa has a rapidly rising population of about 24,000 the reach goes much higher.

'A couple of months ago when we ran a poll about a rail link to Hamilton and Auckland the reach went up to 700,000,” says Rosalie. And in one year the page has gone from 6000 to 10,000 likes.

She also has many stories of people finding information or help and even connecting with councils, the New Zealand Transport Agency, local MPs, businesses and other key stakeholders.

The Papamoa Facebook page also raises awareness about local not-for-profit organisations, events and if there is a sniff of bad weather you can learn about on the page.

Rosalie says the page is also a valuable tool for some key social and health services to connect with the people they are trying to help.

'Often those groups come to us for help in getting their message out.

'We wonder it it's been a contributing factor to growing the friendly vibe that helps to make the region an attractive place in which to live and work.”

To check out their page click here.