The New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards are organised and hosted by Sport NZ to recognise and celebrate excellence from across New Zealand’s sport and recreation sector. 

Now in their 11th year, the Awards highlight the commitment and dedication of individuals, clubs, local government authorities and regional and national sporting bodies to enriching New Zealanders’ lives through sport and active recreation. 

Winners will be announced at the annual Sport and Recreation Awards dinner, which this year will be held in Wellington on Monday 28 May 2018 to coincide with Sport NZ’s Connections Conference – the annual conference for leaders in the sport and recreation sector. 

On 29 March, the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards judging panel met in Auckland to select the finalists in six categories.

The judging panel were impressed with the high calibre of entrants, but also with the diversity of work happening across the sector. 

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP

Badminton New Zealand and Massey University
Hockey New Zealand and Vantage Windows and Doors
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and BP
World Masters Games 2017 and Barfoot & Thompson

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Fiordland Trails Trust – Lake2Lake, Te Anau to Manapouri Multi-use Trail
The Shift Foundation – Shift: Just Shift It
Special Olympics New Zealand – 2017 National Summer Games

EVENT EXCELLENCE

The DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 – NZ Rugby
World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships 2017 – The NZ Shearing Foundation
World Masters Games 2017

HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMPAIGN

Black Ferns' Women's Rugby World Cup Campaign 2017 – NZ Rugby
World Championship Gold Medal Men’s Shot Put 2017 – Athletics New Zealand
World Doubles Squash Championships 2017 Gold Medal Mixed Pair – Squash New Zealand

INNOVATION EXCELLENCE

Athletics New Zealand: Vertical Pursuit 2017 & Beyond!
Sport Gisborne Tairᾱwhiti: i-COACH
Waka Ama New Zealand: IT Solutions

FUTURE LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP

Anna Markwick - Sport Northland
Cam Mitchell - Cricket Wellington
Jenny Lim - Harbour Sport
Joe Hitchcock - Badminton New Zealand
Michael Woodside - Sport Wellington

Congratulations to all finalists. You will be contacted in the next few days about preparations for the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards Dinner at Te Papa, Wellington on 28 May. 

Entries for 2019 will open early next year with notification on the Sport New Zealand Facebook page.