Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards back for 2021

Today Wellington Airport opened nominations for its annual community awards, recognising the amazing work community groups do across the Wellington region.

The awards, now in their 17th year, are run in collaboration with Wellington Community Trust and Wellington’s five regional councils and will acknowledge the work carried out by thirty community groups across the region, with over $50,000 in award money and prizes to be won.

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, as well as a Rising Star award for new or emerging groups.

Wellington Airport’s CEO Steve Sanderson said “Last year we had to make the very difficult decision to postpone the awards for the first time ever due to Covid-19. We know community groups have been needed more than ever over the past year, so we are delighted to help recognise and reward their efforts.

“Every year we are impressed by the quality of applications received from groups across Wellington. The awards are a great opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the passion and commitment of community volunteers to make Wellington a better place”.

The Chair of Wellington Community Trust’s Board, Roger Palairet, said: “The Community Awards are an opportunity for grass-roots community groups to get the recognition they deserve, and to remind the community of the great work these groups and their many volunteers do. For Wellington Community Trust this is always an exciting opportunity for us to support and develop relationships with organisations whose initiatives help communities across the region to thrive.”

At the last awards in 2019, more than 200 nominations were received from groups across the region with InsideOUT taking home the Supreme Award for their efforts in ensuring all rainbow young people in Aotearoa New Zealand have a sense of safety and belonging in their schools and communities.

Tabby Besley, Managing Director of InsideOUT said “Winning the Supreme Award in 2019 was an amazing boost for all our team who work so hard to ensure every rainbow young person has the opportunity to be themselves. There can be a lot of negativity towards our community so being recognised by our city for the work we’re doing means so much to us all”.

Over the 17 years it’s been running, the Wellington Airport Community Awards has recognised over 500 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 the regional People’s Choice award.

You can make a nomination on Wellington Airport’s website. Nominations close 31 May 2021.

Ends

For more information contact: Jo.Maxwell@wellingtonairport.co.nz

Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards 2019 Winners

• Supreme Award: InsideOUT
• Arts and Culture: Ōtaki Promotions Group
• Education and Child/Youth Development: InsideOUT
• Health and Wellbeing: Little Sprouts Charitable Trust
• Heritage and Environment: HUHA NZ (Helping You Help Animals)
• Sport and Leisure: Porirua Grand Traverse
• Rising Star Award: M.A.T.C.H. The Māoriland Tech Creative Hub