2024 Regional Finalists

Every year, Wellington Airport and the five local councils come together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards. The focus of the awards is to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society. Watch the videos below to fund out more about the winning groups from around the region who are now finalists for the region-wide awards announced later in November.

Asian Events Trust for the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival

Asian Events Trust brings the community together to deliver the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival. It provides a platform for local Asian communities to feel proud of their culture and for the wider community to experience an absolutely positively celebration of the Lunar New Year traditions. Asian Events Trust believe communities are strengthened not from what they achieve working in isolation, but by the sum of their efforts in working together.

Citizen’s Advice Bureau Upper Hutt

Citizens Advice Bureau Upper Hutt is an independent community organisation that provides free, confidential and independent information and advice to anyone.  They assist people to know and understand their rights and obligations, and how to use this information to get the best outcomes.  Their team provide people with the confidence and support they need to take action, and work for positive social change.

Discover Kapiti Heritage Group

Discover Kāpiti Heritage Group is a collaborative of eleven museums established to encourage people to discover their heritage by visiting Kāpiti’s museums and art galleries. They believe it is important that the Kāpiti community has access to their stories, and through sharing these they play an important role in giving the local community a sense of identity. The Anniversary Weekend Clue Hunt with clues to find at each museum and epic prize packs is a calendar highlight.

dsport for World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament

dsport inspire and enable disabled people to participate in sport and active recreation and provide opportunities for them to achieve, at whatever level they choose. This year, in a world-first, dsport transformed an indoor artificial grass turf into an international standard hardcourt wheelchair rugby competition space at the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Trentham. Over 10 days of competition, eight teams, with nearly 90 wheelchair athletes including the NZL Wheel Blacks, vied for the last three spots for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

He Puāwai Trust

He Puāwai supports whānau to lessen their reliance on foodbanks and become more sovereign and self-determining. They develop local kai hubs and strategies including their Māra Ora allotment programme. Whānau can have their own plot, and are supported to learn to grow kai, to connect and share with others. He Puāwai recognise we all come from a place of sovereignty, and that the only way to address poverty is to stand together as one.

House of Science

House of Science is committed to seeing Kiwi kids get excited about science. The Wellington branch works with over 40 primary and intermediate schools from Seatoun to Pukerua Bay. Each fortnight, volunteers drop off a kit on a new topic.  When the teacher lifts the lid, everything they need to deliver hands-on, engaging science activities is there – in both te reo Māori and English. House of Science believe when tamariki feel passionate about science, they’ll become curious learners in all aspects of their lives.

Kai, Kōrero, Kēmu - Te Awakairangi Lower Hutt

Kai, Kōrero, Kēmu – Te Awakairangi is a grassroots initiative focused on learning Te Reo Māori through playing games. Their kaupapa is open to everyone, and their community ranges from tamariki/mokopuna to kaumatua and kuia. Meeting every Thursday night, they have a goal of learning 5000 kupu (words). They do this by playing board games, weaving harakeke, playing traditional Māori games, or even cooking - no week is ever the same, but they are always fun!

Kāpiti Women’s Centre

The Kāpiti Women’s Centre is a feminist organisation promoting the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of women and their children through their accessible information centre. They empower women by providing convenient access to multiple resources in one safe and supportive location. This wrap-around support includes programmes, workshops, free counselling, Women’s Refuge, free high-quality clothing and kai from Kaibosh.

Kickstart

Kickstart realises hope for a better future for the rangatahi of Upper Hutt through providing healthy spaces, experiences and opportunities for young people. They provide positive and fun youth development programmes to over 2000 rangatahi annually through the local colleges and intermediate schools in an effort to address the inequity faced by many students and their whānau.

Le Moana

Le Moana is an arts organisation that serves as a vessel for the exchange of stories, concepts and ideas through live dance and theatre performance. The company was established as a pathway for cultural exchange and the development of storytelling by Pacific Artists. They support the infrastructure of the arts ecology in Aotearoa by providing empowering professional development for young performers, emerging artists and theatre producers.

Mākara Peak Supporters

Mākara Peak is a world-class mountain bike park in a restored native forest. Mākara Peak Supporters work in partnership with Wellington City Council to develop and maintain this beautiful park. For 25 years, volunteers have been restoring 250ha of regenerating native forest and over 45 km of trails, developing and maintaining a significant recreational area for mountain bikers, walkers and runners.

Mary Potter Hospice

Mary Potter Hospice is a local charity that provides free-of-charge specialist palliative care services for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families/whānau across the Wellington, Porirua and Kāpiti communities. The Hospice will be there with qualified caring nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, social workers, counsellors, art therapists and spiritual carers as needed. Mary Potter Hospice was founded on the belief that everyone should be able to live and die well, regardless of their financial situation, religion or ethnicity.

MIRO (Mainland Island Restoration Operation)

Thanks to the vision of their founding members 25 years ago, MIRO volunteers are working to restore the natural ecosystems of East Harbour Regional Park and surrounding areas through pest control, revegetation and bird protection. And as advocates for the local environment, they undertake public engagement within the community. To get things done, they especially rely on the support of Greater Wellington Regional Council, Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Hutt City Council.

Predator Free Whitby

Predator Free Whitby has a vision for Whitby (and all of Porirua) to become a haven for native birds, bugs and fauna. They distribute traps to households throughout the community and plan, install and maintain traplines throughout the reserves. They want the community to get involved and get behind the Predator Free 2050 vision so our mokopuna and their mokopuna will be able to enjoy the biodiversity and resplendent bush that once was.

Porirua Rowing Club

Porirua Rowing Club are all about encouraging people of all ages to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. They run fun “Learn to Row” programmes for Kids and Adults throughout the year. Rangatahi gain confidence, make new friends and feel free to be themselves, and get fit and healthy along the way. Rowing is what brings people to Porirua Rowing Club but it’s the community spirit, friendship and fun that makes people stay.

Sands Wellington-Hutt Valley

Sands Wellington-Hutt Valley supports parents, families and whānau when a baby or infant dies. Their volunteers are bereaved parents paying it forward to other bereaved parents. They provide Moses baskets and memory items to hospitals and provide support through meetings, by phone or over a coffee. They hold memorial services, raise awareness, and educate health professionals. Sands want to ensure that whānau know there are others in their community who care, can guide them if they want that, and will always talk about their precious pepe who died.

Te Ara Korowai

Te Ara Korowai is a creative wellbeing centre in Raumati Beach. They have a mission to provide a safe space and promote mental wellbeing through creativity, support and connection. Their community of people with lived experience of mental health distress, and disabilities develop skills and creativity, providing a meaningful way to process experiences. They are passionate about promoting positive mental health, reducing isolation and fostering connection and support in the community.

Te Kāhui o Ngā Hau e Whā

Te Kāhui o Ngā Hau e Whā are a community kapa haka group of tamariki from all kura in Upper Hutt. Tamariki Māori and tamariki ngākau Māori have opportunities to participate and lead in Māori spaces. Through kapa haka they become the holders of tikanga and te reo Māori for their entire hapū. There is increased whanaungatanga amongst schools, whānau and other community groups and tamariki, whānau and staff have increased confidence in te ao Māori spaces and kaupapa.

Te Kiwa Nui Festival (Wellington Northern Region Polyfest Trust)

Wellington Northern Region Polyfest Trust work alongside schools in the Porirua region to create the Te Kiwa Nui festival. For over 50 years their events have celebrated the indigenous languages and cultures of the Pacific through oratory, song, and dance. This year round 2000 students were supported by over 100 volunteers providing  tutoring and cultural, design, costuming and backstage support. Confident and empowered Māori and Pacific youth thrive with the cultural knowledge to lead in their own respective communities and beyond.

Tū Matau Ora

Tū Mātau Ora share taonga tākaro (traditional Māori games) as a fun safe way to engage in Māori customs and culture. This kaupapa includes the use of te reo, tikanga, mātauranga, uara and āria Māori. They have advocated for Māori play spaces including the creation and activation of the Pukehuia Park Kī o Rahi in Newlands. They have provided opportunities for more than 20,000 people of all ages to experience te ao Māori through taonga tākaro since they started.

UHub

UHub is a vibrant Upper Hutt community hub for children from birth to age 12 and their whānau with a whole community approach to education: nurturing learning and resilience. Together, they empower whānau, early childhood, schools, agencies and business to think differently, collaborate and use resources efficiently and equitably. Whānau are supported in many ways - in person, online, by phone, workshops, groups, and resources. By investing early in young people, they’re clearing the path to a positive future: para he huarahi ki te ora.

Ulalei Wainuiomata Sports

Ulalei Wainuiomata is a sports club with origins in the village of Vaiala in Samoa. They run free events for Wainuiomata’s tamariki, including soccer and touch competitions for all local primary schools. Their teams play in touch football, tag football, kirikiti and ki o rahi competitions. Ulalei know that costs and travel can be a barrier to participation for many whānau, so their events are free and local to remove these barriers. They want the tamariki who want to play - to play. Ulalei are proudly adding to Wainuiomata’s strong wave of rejuvenation.

Waikanae Surfing Club

Waikanae Surfing Club are all about teaching kids - and sometimes their Mums and Dads - how to surf, in a fun and safe environment. Each Sunday they bring families together to learn to surf, providing boards and coaching, to enable their members - no matter their age or ability - to get out there and get amongst the waves! They love surfing and the ocean and want families in our community to experience it too. Seeing a kid's face light up when they catch a wave keeps the clubs volunteers going year after year!

Wellington Severe Weather Reports

Wellington Severe Weather Reports started in July 2017 with crowdfunding by the community and local businesses to build a state-of-the-art weather station in Upper Hutt. Opening in 2024, the station measures rain, humidity, barometric pressure, temperature, solar, radiation and an ultra sonic wind sensor. A website including a live stream feed and public display screen by St Joseph's Primary School provide the latest up to date information for the public, plus education for Upper Hutt children today and for years to come.

Work Ready Kāpiti

Work Ready Kāpiti support Kāpiti rangatahi to be work ready, connected with employers and confident in the workplace. They are passionate about connecting young people to mana enhancing work opportunities through work experience, employer meets and job skills enhancement programmes. At the heart of their work is creating more opportunities for the next generation of young job seekers in Kāpiti. Local businesses benefit from the fresh perspectives and energy these young employees bring to the workplace.

World Marudào Karate Organisation

Marudào Karate is a non-profit organisation that provides a safe environment for all ages, genders & cultures through their Martial arts programme. They have fundraised and donated over $200,000 to organisations including Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington Free Ambulance, Ronald McDonald House & Wellington Children’s Hospital. The Marudào Karate family is way more than just kicks and punches.

Youth Search and Rescue Trust

Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR) are a youth development program that blends outdoor adventure and leadership. They train young people for future roles in Search and Rescue and Emergency Management, helping them build resilience, confidence, and essential skills. They are developing the next generation of volunteers who are trained and willing to give back to their communities in response to the growing number of disasters and emergencies that we facing.