Sport NZ has announced the finalists for its 2025 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, celebrating individuals and organisations making a positive impact through sport and recreation.

“These awards highlight the incredible dedication, innovation and amazing work happening across our sector,” says Raelene Castle, Chief Executive, Sport New Zealand Group.

"It’s great to see people helping their communities, encouraging others to be active, and making sport and recreation open to everyone."

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Tākina Events Centre in Wellington on Monday 14 July with 18 finalists shortlisted across six main categories.

“The judges were impressed by the quality of the entries,” says Raelene.

“There were so many strong nominations this year, which shows just how passionate and committed people are across the sector. Choosing just three finalists in each category was a real challenge.”

Also awarded on the night will be the C.K. Doig Leadership Award and Sir Eion and Jan, Lady Edgar Lifetime Achievement Award.

The judging panel for 2025 was Mike Stanley CNZM (Chair), Sarah Murray, Dallas Seymour, Rebecca McDonald, Wayne Werder and Cheycoda Cocks.

The Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga – Excellence in impacting Māori participation as Māori was judged independently by Te Miri Rangi, Wai Taumaunu ONZM MBE and Veronica Thompson MNZM.

The finalists by category (in alphabetical order) are:

Commercial Partnership
Gymnastics New Zealand + Xtreme Productivity
He Toa Taua – Harbour Sport + Harcourts Cooper & Co
New Zealand Cricket + ANZ

Community Impact
Aktive: Game Plan AKL™
Gisborne Boardriders Club with Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti: Surf for Life – East Coast
Hoa Motuhake Sports Trust: Te Pou o Te Whare – Sports Mentoring for Tamariki in Care

Environmental Sustainability
Hutt City Council: Te Ngaengae Pool + Fitness: Pioneering Sustainability in Community Aquatic Centres
North Harbour Hockey Association Waste Zero 2027
Yachting New Zealand Clean Club programme

Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion
Adaptive Whakauru Tahi Charitable Trust
Buttabean Motivation (BBM)
Paralympics New Zealand

Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga - Excellence in Impacting Māori Participation as Māori Award
New Zealand Rugby: Māori Rugby Development Programme – Te Ara Ranga Tira – The Chiefly Path
Māori Touch: NZ Tamariki Māori Touch Tournament
Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua and Sport Manawatū: He Oranga Poutama, Māori Activation Fund

Susie Simcock Future Leaders' Scholarship
Belinda Randall, Gymnastics New Zealand
Kathryn Jones, Aktive
Meaghan Wilby, Basketball New Zealand