Aquatic Facility of the Year Award

This award recognises an outstanding facility where the principal purpose of the built structure is aquatic recreation. A facility which strives to demonstrate excellence In safe operations, fostering a supportive and engaged working environment, meeting community needs, sustainable practices, access and inclusion and providing a welcoming space for all.

It is important that sufficient objective data/evidence is provided for areas such as ‘usage’ and ‘finance’.

Note: The facility must have current Poolsafe status.

The winner of this award will go on to represent the aquatics sector in the Recreation Facility of the Year Award, competing alongside finalists from the Parks and Community Recreation categories.

Nominations close Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 4pm.

Please send all enquiries to Rhiann@nzrecreation.org.nz before this time.

Contact details of person nominating

Name*

First NameLast Name

Organisation*

Email*

Phone number*

Area CodePhone Number

Facility name*

Innovation - Please describe how your facility is innovative and demonstrates efficiency or improvement over others that have gone before. This could be in operations, customer services, programmes, staff culture etc.*

Community Engagement - Please show the level of community involvement (not just user numbers )and meaningful engagement within the development and/or operation of your facility. Feedback surveys, consultations on projects or programmes, connection with Iwi, local schools, regional sports trusts and other organisations. *

Excellence - Show how your facility 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 facility and how well it has done against those. Usage statistics, user satisfaction/references and outcomes are key here. *

Efficiency And Effectiveness - Efficiency and effectiveness is quantified 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 your pool has delivered on. Include other forms of sustainability including financial, social etc that are relevant. *

Diversity, Equity And Inclusion - Describe what has been done to ensure the initiative encourages diversity, equity and inclusion at your pool. Consider Te Tiriti o Waitangi, disability, gender, ethnicity etc. *

Applicant Video - Link to a one-minute video showcasing the facility*

Upload photos of your facility*

Browse Files

Upload any documentation that might help your nomination, such as media articles, customer testimonials, usage data, financial data etc*

Browse Files

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*

I accept

Recreation Aotearoa may hold any photographs submitted with my application for future promotion of their services*

I acceptI decline