This week’s ASB Bank Good as Gold winner is Meri Leask. Her nominator writes: “For almost 40 years, Meri has run the Bluff Fishermen’s radio as a volunteer. She logs vessels’ intentions in the area, relays messages to crew’s families, and is generally a friendly voice in a fairly hostile environment.

She does a marvellous job and is understandably very popular in the Southland area. She ends every transmission with a friendly and mandatory "Good as Gold" so has earned the nickname "Good as Gold Meri". Without her there would be undoubtedly many more fatalities on the water. I would love it if ASB could arrange a small thank you for her selfless service over the years”

Meri very rarely leaves her post, but ASB has heard she sometimes visits family in Australia. They have arranged for her to fly business class to visit her Sydney-based daughter from Invercargill, plus $1,000 spending money.