Wellington Airport Community Awards nominations open for 2025
Wellington Airport has opened nominations for its 21st annual community awards, recognising the outstanding work of community group volunteers across the Wellington region.
The awards are run together with Wellington’s five regional councils and acknowledge the work carried out by community groups across the region. Over $50,000 in award money and other prizes are on offer to winners.
Groups can be nominated in the areas of Arts and Culture, Education and Child/Youth Development, Health and Wellbeing, Heritage and Environment and Sport and Leisure, plus a Rising Star award specifically recognises new and emerging community groups.
Awards are first presented at a council level (Upper Hutt, Hutt City, Wellington City, Porirua and Kāpiti) with the regionwide finals held later in the year.
Wellington Airport’s CEO Matt Clarke says:
“It’s not too much of a stretch to say these awards have become iconic. Every year our team is blown away by the amazing work of community volunteers in our region, and we’re proud to have been celebrating them and their achievements for 21 years now.”
At the 2024 awards, more than 300 nominations were received for groups across the region with dsport taking out the Supreme Award for organising the World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification tournament. The tournament supported their mahi to inspire and enable disabled people to participate in sport and active recreation and provide opportunities for them to achieve, at whatever level they choose.
Over the past 21 years, the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards has recognised over 1160 community organisations and their thousands of volunteers across the region.
Later in the year, a Regional Supreme award winner will be announced, and members of the public will have an opportunity to vote for the finalists in a People’s Choice award.
Nominations can be submitted on Wellington Airport’s website and close 31 May 2025.
2024 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards Winners
- Supreme Award: dsport (World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament)
- Arts and Culture: Asian Events Trust for the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival
- Education and Child/Youth Development: Te Kiwa Nui Festival (Wellington Northern Region Polyfest Trust)
- Health and Wellbeing: Kāpiti Women’s Centre
- Heritage and Environment: Wellington Severe Weather Reports
- Sport and Leisure: dsport (World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament)
- Rising Star Award: Tū Mātau Ora
- People’s Choice Award: Mary Potter Hospice
