An initiative started from the desire to bring back traditional neighbourly relationships has seen a group of Tauranga volunteers announced the Supreme Winner of this year's Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards.

The Good Neighbour Trust reigned supreme at last night's awards presented by Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby and Trustpower chief executive Vince Hawksworth at ASB Baypark.

Good Neighbour founder Campbell Hill and volunteer Jason Rowling. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Started by Tauranga man Campbell Hill in 2011, Good Neighbour works around the idea of neighbours building neighbourhoods, with three strands to the organisation.

The first strand sees a group of around 40 volunteers meeting the practical needs of people who have hit a bump in life's road, such as illness.

This could see the team helping with anything from mowing lawns to delivering free firewood, but has included organising a backyard wedding for a couple struggling to make ends meet, and hosting a pirate birthday party for a five year old whose father had stage 4 cancer.

The Good Neighbour Food Rescue Vision support other charities and community groups by collecting useable food that may otherwise be thrown into landfills.

The most recent, the ‘Let's Get Growing' initiative, involves establishing community gardens in various locations.

Campbell says the key to growing the organisation is continuing to receive support.

'It's about the power of community working together to make our neighbourhoods a better place to live.

'Last year volunteers in our Projects area contributed over 1000 hours in our community. Our Good Neighbour Food Rescue initiative has only been going a short time and has donated over $30,000 of food.”

For winning the Supreme Award, Good Neighbour received a framed certificate, a trophy and $1500 prize money.

The charitable organisation will now represent the region at the 2014 Trustpower National Community Awards in the Wellington, March 2015.

Stuart Crosby says it's exciting to see what's possible when a group of likeminded people get together for the good of the community.

'It's been an amazing journey for this team who not long after being set up are already helping dozens of local charities continue the valuable work they doing the community.”

Trustpower community relations representative Jessica Somerville says Good Neighbour is an exciting concept generating plenty of community spirit.

'Two projects that have especially stood out to the volunteers include organising a pirate themed birthday party for a son who's dad was terminally ill and the transformation of a backyard for a couple where the husband ‘to be' had recently lost his job through no fault of his own.

'They have seen how serving others generously has made such a difference in their lives and we can't wait for them to share their journey at the 2014 Trustpower National Community Awards in March next year.”

The competition for this year's Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards was strong, with 51 groups entered for the Awards.

More than $5000 was given to various community groups at last night's awards.

Other award recipients at the Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards were:

Heritage and Environment

Runner-Up: ARRC Wildlife Trust

Winner: Pukehinahina Charitable Trust

Health and Wellbeing

Commendation: Shakti Womens Council

Joint Runner-Up: Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust

Joint Runner-Up: Tauranga RDA

Winner: Bellyful Tauranga

Arts and Culture

Commendation: The Incubator

Runner-Up: Mauao Performing Arts Centre Charitable Trust

Winner: National Jazz Festival

Sport and Leisure

Runner- up: Special Olympics Tauranga Club

Winner: Bellevue Athletics Club

Education and Child/Youth Development

Commendation: Mount Maunganui Music School Charitable Trust

Runner-Up: Kidz Need Dadz Charitable Trust Inc

Winner: Citizens Advice Bureau

Supreme Winner

Good Neighbour

Youth Spirit

Winner: Adam Leeuwen

Runner-up: Emily McCarthy

Finalist: Ben Richards

Finalist: Deborah Paine

Finalist: Paula Smith

Finalist: Spencer Voorend