The 10 heroes who made the world a better place in 2016

The 10 heroes who made the world a better place in 2016

New Zealanders are a pretty incredible bunch, often willing to go out of their way to help other people.

2016 has been a trying year for many but acts of kindness by Kiwis here and abroad have put a smile on many faces.

Here at Newshub we have told the stories of many heroes this year. Here are our top 10:

1. Helen Kelly

The 10 heroes who made the world a better place in 2016

The late Helen Kelly fought tirelessly for what she believed in, be it workers' safety or medicinal cannabis. Helen Kelly died in 2016, aged 52, after a battle with cancer. She will be remembered for reducing the number of deaths in the forestry industry from double to single figures and as the woman who never got the chance to lead the Labour Party.

2. Rosemarie North

Rosemarie North (Twitter)
Rosemarie North (Twitter)

New Zealand aid worker Rosemarie North is one of many, many volunteers working to save refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea on 'inflated death traps' as she calls them. Because of people like Rosemarie, the number of people who lost their lives in that dangerous stretch of water was far lower that it could have been.

3. Te Puea Marae

Te Puea Marae (Newshub.)
Te Puea Marae (Newshub.)

Te Puea Marae opened its doors to homeless families from around Auckland. The marae provided short term accommodation for families that had nowhere else to go. Not only did they promise a roof over their heads but support in the form of financial education and finding a permanent home.

4. Nikki Hamblin

Nikki Hamblin helping Abbey D'Agostino (Getty)
Nikki Hamblin helping Abbey D'Agostino (Getty)

Olympic runner Nikki Hamblin did New Zealand proud when she helped a fellow runner to the finish line after falling in a collision. Hamblin and American runner Abbey D'Agostino were running in the 5000m race when they were caught in a tumble, but both made it to the finish line and the Kiwi even made it to the final. Nikki Hamblin was later awarded the Fair Play Award for her Olympic spirit.

5. Robert Martin

Robert Martin at his nomination at the UN (Nicola Garvey)
Robert Martin at his nomination at the UN (Nicola Garvey)

This year Robert Martin became the first person with a learning disability to be elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Mr Martin hails from Whanganui and has been a long-time leader of People First New Zealand, an advocacy group fighting for the rights and inclusion of all people with learning disabilities.

6. Nerf kid

Sam Wigzell with his nerf gun (Supplied)
Sam Wigzell with his nerf gun (Supplied)

Sam Wigzell is Hamilton's homegrown hero. In July, Sam was playing minecraft on his playstation at home when he heard a knock on the front door. The nine-year-old quickly locked all the doors then went to his room to grab his nerf gun. Unfortunately Sam couldn't scare the burglar away, but his bravery was rewarded.

7. Hamilton lifesavers

Drew Bolli (Newshub.)
Drew Bolli (Newshub.)

A group of young Hamilton men saved a man's life after he crashed his car thanks to their quick thinking and first aid skills. At first police claimed to have been the first responders however Newshub revealed it was indeed Drew Bolli and his friends who were at the right place at the right time.

8. Andy Valk

Andy Valk and John (Newshub.)
Andy Valk and John (Newshub.)

Late one night on RadioLIVE a Taupo man called the station to tell his story of living in a tent through a Taupo winter. Rotorua man Andy Valk heard John's story of hardship and decided to drive to Taupo from Rotorua and pick up the man and offer him a room at his home.

9. Rose Renton

Rose Renton presenting a petition to parliament (Facebook)
Rose Renton presenting a petition to parliament (Facebook)

Rose Renton made headlines when she admitted to administering medicinal cannabis to her son weeks before it was approved by the government. Alex Renton was diagnosed with a rare condition which caused him to have near constant seizures. He died in 2015. Rose has fought tirelessly for medicinal cannabis to be made legal in New Zealand.

10. Kaikoura quake volunteers

People being choppered out of Kaikoura by the Defence Force (NZDF)
People being choppered out of Kaikoura by the Defence Force (NZDF)

After the 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Kaikoura in November, people from all walks of life were quick to offer what they could to those who had lost their homes and livelihoods. Takahanga Marae fed thousands who were stranded in the tourist town to generous Kiwis from around the country.

Newshub.