• TĀMAKI MAKAURAU ZERO WASTE AWARDS 2026

    TĀMAKI MAKAURAU ZERO WASTE AWARDS 2026

  • Kia ora,

    Thank you for taking time to make a nomination in the 2026 Tāmaki Makaurau Zero Waste Awards.

    These awards are about celebrating the mahi of outstanding people and organisations in our communities who are working hard to help reduce waste to landfill.

    Nominations

    Nominations are open from 1 to 31 May 2026 and are for mahi where the majority of it has taken place since the last awards, between August 2024 and April 2026, anywhere in the Auckland Council region.

    You can nominate yourself or someone else, and you can work together with your nominee on filling in this form.

    To make a strong nomination include any data you have (e.g. waste diversion in kilos), photos and videos, give examples of each point you make and include as much information as possible.

    You can read about the previous three events in 2021, 2022 and 2024, including all the nominees, photos from the events and some cool videos about past winners, on the webpage here.

    Every nomination will be reviewed by the judging panel in mid-June, with winners and highly commended announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 6 August. All eligible nominees will receive an email invitation to the awards evening in early July.

    Handy Hints

    Ready to go? Here's a few handy hints to help you fill out this online form:

    A red asterisk means a question must be answered before you can move on to the next section. You can move back and forward through the form by clicking the Next and Back buttons at the bottom of the page. To come back to a question you can enter some holding text to be able to move on and then come back to it.

    You can save your form and return to it later to finish by clicking on the save button at the bottom of the page. If you choose this option, you'll be prompted to enter an email address so you can be sent a link. You don't need to create an account - just click on the small print at the bottom that says Skip Create An Account to get your email link sent.

    Once you have finished the form, click Submit. After a few minutes you will receive an email copy of your submission, with the option to go back and edit any of the answers. Please make any edits by 31 May.

    Contact

    Please contact Ana Davison at ana@ecomatters.org.nz or 021 394 447 if you have questions, would like to make a submission over the phone or if you would like a paper copy sent to you by post.

    Ngā mihi nui,
    The Zero Waste Awards team. 

  • The Award Categories are -

  • Rangatahi Leadership – Rangatahi, rangawhenua, rangatangata

    This category celebrates ‘leaders in the making’, individuals and groups of rangatahi, under 21 years, showing commitment and leadership to reducing waste in their communities.

    Mō te rangatahi e whakapau ngoi ana ki te hāpai me te ārahi i te kaupapa para kore.

    The inspiration for the te reo translation of this category is ‘a young net who weaves the land and weaves people’.


    This is the best category for ECE and school children, tertiary students and environmentally focused youth groups. However, to nominate an educational organisation, eg. an early childhood centre, for their efforts as a business rather than for the rangatahi efforts within the centre, use the Community Collaboration category.

    To nominate an individual over 21 years old, including a teacher or educator who is leading or supporting rangatahi, or for a school wide project where there is a large adult support and adult-led component, please use the Community Collaboration or Growing the Movement category.


    Growing the Movement – Whakakanohi i te kaupapa para kore

    This category celebrates ‘local heroes’, individuals and groups, working voluntarily to raise awareness, inspire change, and share their tautoko of the zero waste kaupapa.

    Mō te pakihi, ratonga rānei e whakapau werawera, e whakakanohi ana hoki i te kaupapa para kore.

    The inspiration for the te reo translation of this category is ‘the face of the zero waste movement’.


    Community Collaboration – Hā ora, Hāpori

    This category is about ‘walking the talk’, celebrating those in paid roles demonstrating commitment to building community partnerships to reduce waste, in businesses, social enterprises, marae, non-government organisations, charitable organisations and so on.

    Mō te pakihi, ratonga rānei e mahi ngātahi ana ki te hapori kia para kore.

    The inspiration for the te reo translation of this category is ‘clean air, community’.


    Cultural Connection – Whīria te ahurea, whīria te kaitīakitanga

    This category celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion, for individuals and groups, ‘keeping it local’, using cultural approaches to educate, inspire and manaaki communities to reduce waste.

    Mō te tangata, rōpu rānei e whīria ana te ahurea hei whakamana i te kaupapa kia para kore.

    The inspiration for the te reo translation of this category is ‘choose culture, choose guardianship’.

    Innovation – Anga whakamua

    This category celebrates zero waste initiatives, projects and products ‘making it happen’, demonstrating innovation, the circular economy in action and promising results.

    Mō te auaha, mō te ihumanea, mō te ihuoneone e anga whakamua kia para kore.

    The inspiration for the te reo translation of this category is ‘thinking ahead’.

    This category is for recognising a project/initiative, rather than an individual. For example, a physical product, digital technology, research and development initiative and so on. 

  • Your (nominator) contact details

    As the nominator, you are the main point of contact in regards to the information supplied. Once you have made a nomination, we will contact the nominee and invite them to the awards event.
  •  -

  • Nominee Contact Details

    Please provide contact details for who you would like to nominate. If you are nominating a group or organisation, please provide contact details for the main contact person of this group. If you are nominating yourself, please repeat the information you inputted above.
  • Which category would you like to make a nomination in?*
  • Are you nominating an individual or a group/organisation?*
  •  -
  • Which area of Auckland does the majority of this nominee's mahi take place?

  • Making a nomination for the Rangatahi Leadership Award

  • This category celebrates ‘leaders in the making’, individuals and groups of rangatahi, under 21 years, showing commitment and leadership to reducing waste in their communities.

    Mō te rangatahi e whakapau ngoi ana ki te hāpai me te ārahi i te kaupapa para kore.

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  • Making a nomination for the Growing the Movement

  • This category celebrates ‘local heroes’, individuals and groups, working voluntarily to raise awareness, inspire change, and share their tautoko of the zero waste kaupapa.

    Mō te pakihi, ratonga rānei e whakapau werawera, e whakakanohi ana hoki i te kaupapa para kore.

  • Upload files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
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  • Making a nomination for the Community Collaboration Award

  • This category is about ‘walking the talk’, celebrating those in paid roles demonstrating commitment to building community partnerships to reduce waste, in businesses, social enterprises, marae, non-government organisations and charitable organisations.

    Mō te pakihi, ratonga rānei e mahi ngātahi ana ki te hapori kia para kore.

  • Upload files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  • Making a nomination for the Cultural Connection Award

  • This category celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion, for individuals and groups, ‘keeping it local’, using cultural approaches to educate, inspire and manaaki communities to reduce waste.

    Mō te tangata, rōpu rānei e whīria ana te ahurea hei whakamana i te kaupapa kia para kore.

  • Upload files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  • Making a nomination for the Innovation Award

  • This category celebrates zero waste initiatives, projects and products ‘making it happen’, demonstrating innovation, the circular economy in action and promising results.

    Mō te auaha, mō te ihumanea, mō te ihuoneone e anga whakamua kia para kore.

  • Upload files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  • Almost there!

    Just a few more things we need to check and want to let you know

  • The Zero Waste Awards event

    The judging session will be mid-June, when every nomintion is read and assessed by the judging group. In early July invitations will be emailed to all nominees who meet the category criteria. The awards will be presented at an evening event on Thursday 6 August in Eden Terrace.

    If you have any questions about the awards evening, about sponsoring the awards, or anything else, please email Ana at ana@ecomatters.org.nz  or phone 021 394 447.

    We look forward to celebrating all the wonderful mahi that has been happening over the last two years reducing waste to landfill.

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