More than 20 years of community service was acknowledged at Government House last week when Te Puke’s Jenny Wotten was presented with her King’s Service Medal.

The award, one of the 2025 New Year Honours, and was made in recognition of her services to the community and squash.

Wotten has contributed to the Te Puke community since 1997 through numerous volunteer roles and community organisations.

She served on Te Puke Primary School Parent Teacher Association from 2002 to 2011, organising numerous fundraising events, serving as president, secretary and helping organise the school’s 125th celebrations.

She was a founding member and volunteer for the Te Puke Toy Library and was secretary of Te Puke Neighbourhood Support Group from 2008 to 2012.

She was secretary of Te Puke Squash Club Committee from 2008 to 2013 and president from 2015 to 2016, and on the New Zealand Secondary Schools Squash Association Committee for two years. She led the organisation of a three-day event for the Te Puke Squash Club’s 50th Jubilee.

She was chairwoman of Te Puke Centre Charitable Trust from 2020 to 2024, having been secretary and founding trustee of the preceding Te Puke Centre Project from 2018, which helped preserve the local post office from closure. She’s currently chair of the Te Puke Community Trust.

She has supported homeless and underprivileged people by distributing donated food from local businesses and cooking community meals and was a Justice of the Peace in Te Puke from 2002 to 2022.

Recognition

She found out about the nomination and its success late last year.

“I got an email saying I’d been nominated and the nomination was successful and I was blown away!

Wotten firmly believed volunteers should be acknowledged.

“Honouring volunteers not only uplifts individuals but helps to prevent volunteer burnout and keeps the spirit of giving alive.”

At the recent investiture at Government House Auckland, she was humbled to be in the same room as the other medal recipients whose accomplishments were phenomenal.

Jenny says her JP work was among the most rewording of her volunteer roles.

“It is a bit of an imposition being contacted day and night in your personal time, but when you help someone out, and you get a very good sense of satisfaction.

“The skills I’d picked up working in an office environment over many years, helped a lot, you don’t realise that not everyone has those skills.”

She was also part of the recently wound-up It’s Not Ok group, which aimed to address the issue of domestic violence.

“What we learned listening to both the victims and the perpetrators, was that some people think violence is the only tool in the toolbox. But through education, they can learn other ways to deal with their anger.”

The winding up of the It’s Not OK organisation recently led to donations of the remaining funds in its account to The Hub Te Puke and Te Puke Community Trust.

Squash

Wotten was also recognised for her contribution to the Te Puke Squash Club, so she assumed someone from the Squash club was involved in the nomination process or support letters.

She said her time at the club holds a special place in her heart.

“Whether I was serving as secretary, president, volunteer bar manager, helping in the kitchen, or in charge of comms, it was always about giving back and being part of the wider squash family, the camaraderie at the club was (and is still) amazing.

“My children grew up in the place and Te Puke Squash Club has a reputation of being a great family environment. A lot of our and their connections were made in that club, and other clubs all around New Zealand.”

Special mention

At the awards ceremony recipients were introduced in small groups of six or seven at a time.

“We were treated very much personally by staff and the Governor General.”

Wotten said the Governor General Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro specifically mentioned Te Puke in making the presentation.

“My award was very Te Puke-focused, and the Governor General acknowledged that. She said it was a big day for Te Puke.”

Jenny with her husband Paul and daughter Chanel. Photo / Supplied

Wotten echoed those thoughts. “I know I didn’t get here alone. I am standing on the shoulders of giants – Lorna and Kevin Treloar, and Alan Cotter. These three were pillars of strength and humility in our town, truly inspirational individuals who gave so much to our community.

“This was for Te Puke. There’s usually a big team behind me if I’m doing something so this is for everybody else too, for all of the teams that I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with. And that includes my husband Paul and our children, I’m very grateful for their help and support over the years.”

Wotten was accompanied by her husband Paul and daughter Chanel. “It was definitely a very memorable experience for Paul, Chanel and I,” she said.