Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards
Nominations for the 2024 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards are now closed.
Every year, Wellington Airport and Upper Hutt City Council come together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in Upper Hutt. The focus of the awards is to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society.
The awards start with the greater Wellington region’s five councils (Wellington City, Porirua, Kāpiti, Hutt City and Upper Hutt) awarding volunteer organisations in their local community under the following categories: Art & Culture, Education and Child/Youth Development. Health and Wellbeing, Heritage and Environment, Sport and Leisure, plus a Rising Star Award for emerging groups.
The winners from each region then go forward to the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards for the overall award in their category, and the opportunity to be named Supreme Winner. The winners are announced at an annual celebration dinner. Wellington Airport and the local councils have run the awards since 2004, recognising hundreds of community groups across the region. Nominations are open during April-May each year. Community groups or members of the public are invited to nominate any not-for-profit group or organisation working in the interests of the community.
Caption: 2024 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards Winners and Runner-ups from Upper Hutt
Sixty groups will be recognised across the region, with over $50,000 in award money and prizes to be won. Community groups or members of the public are invited to nominate any not-for-profit group or organisation working in the interests of the Upper Hutt community. Every nominator will go in a prize draw to win a gift voucher of bed and breakfast package for two (which consists of bed, breakfast and a $150 Rydges dining voucher) from Rydges Wellington Airport.
Read media release about 2024 winners of the Award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to read the answer or visit the Wellington Airport Regional Awards webpage
If you have any queries about the Wellington Regional Community Awards, please contact Jane Braun at jane.braun@uhcc.govt.nz.
Who is eligible for the award?
Community groups or members of the public are invited to nominate any not-for-profit group or organisation working in the interests of the community.
Please note these awards recognise community groups and organisations, not individual volunteers.
What are the award categories?
Nominations are submitted under one of the following categories:
- Arts & Culture - Enhance and increase participation in arts and creative leisure activities.
- Education & Child/Youth Development - Improvement or enhancement of the educational and social development of children / youth.
- Health & Wellbeing - Enhancing the health and wellbeing of our community.
- Heritage & Environment - Improvement or revitalising of the environment, culture or heritage.
- Sport & Leisure - Increase participation and enjoyment in physical sport, leisure activities and recreational pursuits.
- Rising Star award - Designed to recognise and encourage emerging grassroots groups in the community.
Please note these awards recognise community groups and organisations, not individual volunteers.
When do nominations open and close?
Nominations for the 2023 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards will open on 1 April 2024 and close on 31 May 2024.
What are the judging criteria?
Within each of the five council regions, a judging panel selects the following:
- 5 x Category Winners
- 5 x Category Runners-Up
- 1 x Rising Star Winner
- 1 x Supreme Winner
Key factors considered during judging are:
- volunteer input
- utilisation of resources
- innovation and creativity
- effectiveness of activities
- impact within the community
- recent activities (undertaken during the past 1-2 years)
How can I submit a nomination for the award?
Community groups or members of the public are invited to nominate any not-for-profit group or organisation working in the interests of the community.
Nominations must be made by completing the official online form which will be available on 1 April 2024 on the Wellington Airport Awards webpage here.
Additional supporting information of one pdf document (maximum 6 x A4 pages) and one photo (size 1-10MB) may be submitted with your nomination.
Every nominator will go in the draw to win a Bed and Breakfast package for two from Rydges Wellington Airport (bed, breakfast and $150 dining voucher)
Please note these awards recognise community groups and organisations, not individual volunteers.
How will the Upper Hutt finalists and winners be notified and what will they receive?
All finalists will receive an invitation to the UHCC awards ceremony, which will be hosted by Mayor Guppy.
The venue will be the Gillies Group Theatre in Whirinaki Whare Taonga - at 836 Fergusson Drive (between the Council building and the H2O Xtream aquatic centre).
The awards will be announced and presented at the awards ceremony; winners receive a cash prize and a certificate.
What is the next step for the Upper Hutt winners?
The winners from Upper Hutt then go forward to the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards to compete for the overall award in their category, and the opportunity to be named Supreme Winner.
Later in the year, members of the public will have an opportunity to vote on the Wellington Airport Regional Awards website for the finalists in the regional People’s Choice award.
The Regional Category, People's Choice and Supreme Award winners are announced at the awards dinner hosted by Wellington Airport in November 2024.
The Supreme Award Winner will receive a cash prize, an advertising package and a framed certificate, along with a trophy that is held for one year.