A man who helped raise funds in the United Kingdom for victims of the Canterbury earthquakes has been named the UK New Zealander of the Year.
Kent Gardner, originally from Dunedin, raised £325,000 ($618,650) by organising the Step Up 4 Christchurch event.
[image:4585:third:right]People ran up 1037 steps to the top of the 180-metre-tall 30 St Mary Axe building in London, commonly known as The Gherkin.
Mr Gardner says he is proud to be a New Zealander in London and honoured to be part of a great team of UK-based New Zealanders that are genuinely committed to supporting their country's interests while overseas.
He is a founding partner and chief executive of property fund manager Evans Randall and has lived in Britain for the past decade with his wife Gaye and their three young sons.
The UK New Zealander of the Year award was established by the New Zealand Society in 1999 and was presented at its annual Waitangi Day charity dinner at the Plaisterers' Hall on Friday.
Previous winners include former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Don McKinnon, chef Peter Gordon and equestrian champion Mark Todd.
