Sport NZ has announced the finalists for its annual New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, which celebrate individuals and organisations making outstanding contributions to enhance people’s lives through sport and recreation.

"These awards recognise the work and achievements of those leading the way across the sector,” says Sport NZ Group Chief Executive Raelene Castle.

“It is a highlight to be able to celebrate the immense effort being put in by so many to keep New Zealander’s moving – made even more remarkable this year given the challenges COVID-19 has continued to present. “

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 31 October at Te Pae Convention Centre in Christchurch, with 15 finalists shortlisted across five main category awards: Commercial Partnership, Community Impact, Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion and the Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga for Excellence in Impacting Māori Participation as Māori. 

The judging panel were highly impressed by the calibre of entries this year.

“There was a very high standard of entries this year, which made selecting the finalists even more difficult for the judges. Thank you to all the organisations who put forward nominations,” says Raelene Castle.

Also awarded on the night are the Susie Simcock Future Leaders' Scholarship, C.K. Doig Leadership Award and Sir Eion and Jan, Lady Edgar Lifetime Achievement Award.

The judging panel is comprised of Andrew Leslie (Chair), Bev Cassidy-MacKenzie, Barry Maister CNZM, Dr Jim Mather, Diane Williams and Brittany White.

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

The finalists by category (in alphabetical order) are:

Commercial Partnership

Netball New Zealand + Cadbury

Rowing New Zealand + AON

Sport Waikato + AWWA Period Care

Community Impact Finalists – Local/community

East Coast Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) – The Resilience Project

Softball New Zealand – Tairāwhiti

Wellington City Council – Wellington Skate Programme

Community Impact Finalists – Regional/national

Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation - Water Skills for Life – Tāmaki Makaurau

Volleyball New Zealand - VolleyFest

WORD (World Off-Road Riding Department) – Youth Mountain Bike Adventures

Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga - Excellence in Impacting Māori Participation as Māori

New Zealand Māori Rugby

New Zealand Māori Rugby League

Ngā Kaihoe o Aotearoa – Waka Ama New Zealand

Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion

Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation

Education Outdoors New Zealand

Golf New Zealand

Susie Simcock Future Leaders' Scholarship

Jason Merrett – Sport Canterbury

Ashley Peters - WORD (World Off-Road Riding Department)

Hana-Rae Seifert - Golf New Zealand

Alexi Trenouth – Wellington City Council