Outstanding Awards 2026

Outstanding Awards 2026

The 2026 Recreation Awards are open for applications. They will be awarded on 19 November 2026 at the Recreation Leaders' Summit awards dinner in Tauranga. Nominations close 31 August at 5pm.
We encourage you to review the judging criteria before creating your submission, linked here.
The Outstanding Award categories are:
- Outstanding Project (under $500 000)
- Outstanding Project (over $500 000)
- Outstanding Event
- Outstanding Park
- Outstanding Recreation Facility (pool, playground, skatepark, indoor facility etc)
- Outstanding Community Recreation Programme
- Outstanding Research, Policy & Planning (this is a different nomination form, linked here.)
*NB If you nomination is for a facility or park that hasn't been in operation for over 12 months then we recommend it is submitted in the relevant project category.

Contact Jenny if you have any queries about which category to submit to.
Please select which outstanding award you are applying for:
Contact details of person nominating
Name

First NameLast Name
Organisation
Email
Phone number

Area CodePhone Number
Title of nomination
If this is a joint initiative, please provide name/s of any significant organisations that are to be recognised as part of the award nomination.
Please give an overview of your project/nomination. This may be used for marketing/promotional purposes. (250 words maximum)

0/250
Innovation - describe how the initiative is innovative and demonstrates efficiency or improvement over others that have gone before.
Community Engagement - Detail the level of community involvement and meaningful engagement within the development and/or operation of the initiative.
Excellence - Show how the initiative demonstrates overall excellence and industry leadership and provides the capacity for a case study for other agencies or bodies.
Achievement - Describe what the goals, outputs and results were projected or anticipated for the initiative and how well it has done against those. Usage statistics, user satisfaction / references and outcomes are key here.
Efficiency and Effectiveness - Quantify this criteria through the provision of adequate budget details. It is not the size of the budget that is significant but the impact on your community.
These details will be considered in confidence and not shared or used for any purpose other than judging of these awards.
Sustainability - Identify and report on environmental sustainability considerations that this initiative has delivered on. Include other forms of sustainability that are relevant e.g. financial, social
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Describe how the initiative encourages diversity, equity and inclusion. Consider Te Tiriti o Waitangi, disability, gender, ethnicity etc.
Link to one minute video (optional)
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I accept that any photos or videos submitted with my application may be used by Recreation Aotearoa for promotion and future promotion of the Recreation Awards
Recreation Aotearoa may hold any photographs submitted with my application for future promotion of their services
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