For hammering up a solution to the city's often-idle retired male population – Tauranga's Men's Shed is the Supreme Winner of the 2013 TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards.

The shed, based at the Historic Village, is run by 26 core volunteers who collectively work more than 400 hours each week to provide a place where men of all abilities can get involved.

Dave Harper works in the Men's Shed – which is the Supreme Winner of the 2013 TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards.

Tauranga has the country's largest proportion of men aged over 60 and offers retired men an enjoyable activity from Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm and most Saturdays.

At ASB Arena Baypark last night the Tauranga Men's Shed received the supreme award taking $1500 prize money, a framed certificate – and the opportunity to represent Tauranga City at the 2013 TrustPower National Community Awards in Invercargill next March.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says many men have moved to Tauranga in retirement, leaving behind their sheds and home workshops.

'The Men's Shed is a place where men who are passionate about helping others can come and share knowledge, learn new skills and mentor youth while working together on community projects,” says Teresa.

People in the community have donated tools and machinery for the collective cause, which offers rooms for woodworking and carpentry.

'This project is fantastic for many retired men who have downsized their homes and lost their own sheds and garages. At the Men's Shed, men can get dirty while working on a range of projects,” says Teresa.

'There is always a continuous demand for the group to work on repairs for the Hospice shops, St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Red Cross, schools, churches, community garden groups, hospitals and the list goes on – these volunteers are willing to help out whoever may need a helping hand in the community.

'By providing this workplace environment it is giving men a focus and common ground in which to communicate and build their self-worth.”

The 2013 TrustPower Tauranga Youth Community Spirit Award winner Thea James (at front) with Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby, Tauranga Riding for the Disabled representatives, and TrustPower chief executive Vince Hawksworth.

Competition was tough for this year's TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards, with 72 groups vying for recognition.

Aquinas College student Thea James won the 2013 TrustPower Tauranga Youth Community Spirit Award for supporting a number of projects to help others, both in and out of school.

During her school years, Thea has been a peer mentor, a Senior Young Vinnies member, a part of the SADD Committee, Environment Committee and Special Character Committee. She's also helped organise an art competition to promote responsible drinking.

Outside school, Thea has been volunteering for Tauranga Riding for the Disabled for five years. Every Saturday she spends five hours helping clients ride the horses, clean troughs, sweep yards, and weed paddocks.

Each Wednesday afternoon, Thea performs equine touch (a holistic soft tissue massage) on the horses.

'Thea is an outstanding young woman who truly knows the value of community spirit,” says Teresa.

For winning the award, Thea is receiving $500 prize money, with $250 being gifted to a community group or organisation of her choice; and a framed certificate.

Tauranga Men's Shed representatives John Whitcombe and Gabriella Johnson celebrate winning the supreme award at 2013 TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards last night.

Other winners at last night's TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards were:

Heritage and Environment:

Commendation: Community Fruit Tauranga

Runner-Up: Merivale Community Gardens

Winner: Get Growing Community Gardens

Health and Well Being:

Commendation: 4Good Charitable Trust

Runner-Up: Tauranga South Community Patrol

Winner: Victim Support Tauranga

Arts and Culture:

Runner-Up: Tauranga Regional Multicultural Council

Winner: Village Radio

Sport and Leisure:

Runner- up: Special Olympics Tauranga

Winner: Tauranga BMX Club

Education and Child/Youth Development:

Commendation: Tauranga SeniorNet Club

Runner-Up: Welcome Bay Community Trust

Winner: Otumoetai Rotary Club

Youth Spirit:

Winner: Thea James, Aquinas College.

Finalist: Carinda Reyneke, Bethlehem College.

Finalist: Kristen Vanderschantz, Tauranga Girls' College.

Finalist: Dylan Donne, Tauranga Boys' College.