After coming first in their local Trustpower Community Awards in Tauranga, the Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Club faced the tough task of taking on other regional winners at the national awards.

Club representatives Peter Jones and Oliver Duncan were accompanied by Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless to the event in Rotorua, which pitted the country's best volunteer groups against one another in a friendly competition.

Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Club came out on top at the Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards last year, beating more than 56 other local voluntary organisations.

Trustpower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says although Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Club did not come away as award recipients in the national comp, the work completed by the group shouldn't be forgotten or discounted.

'The two representatives that attended the National Community Awards for Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Club shared their story of passion and love,” she says.

'These volunteers have given so much time and energy to this club over the years. From their humble beginnings to an iconic miniature railway, this club continues to grow and bring happiness to many in the community.”

The national competition brought together 25 groups from across 27 regions – all of which were named Supreme Winners at last year's Trustpower Community Awards, a programme run in partnership with local councils.

The Awards were announced on Saturday evening at the 2016 Trustpower National Community Awards Dinner, held at the Blue Baths.

Koha Kai, representing Invercargill and Southland District, was named Supreme Winner and Bay Bush Action Trust, a group representing the Far North District, was named Runner-Up. The Whetu Mataiata Award winner was Buller High School Bollywood Group from the Buller District.

In between a weekend of sight-seeing and networking, Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Club volunteers gave an eight minute presentation on what the group has achieved. The groups were judged on their presentations, along with a 1000 word summary of the organisation, by their peers and a panel of independent judges.