Awards

 

 
2023 Waikato Sport & Active Recreation Awards - powered by Craigs Investment Partners

"Craigs Investment Partners are proud to be the principal sponsor of the Sport Waikato Community Awards. At Craigs we understand community involvement and the benefits to our region from organisations such as Sport Waikato helping promote health and wellbeing via sport and activity. Our 36 strong team in Hamilton are personally involved in many community sports organisations and see the enjoyment people get from an active lifestyle. We look forward to recognising outstanding contributions to the Waikato in this years award recipients."

Congratulations to all the finalists for this year's awards, including some really innovative initiatives from around the region such as dance, surfing, historical cycle tours, virtual challenges, boxing, judo and skateboarding, to name a few.  Check them all out below: 

View all nominations at www.wsara.co.nz

Congratulations to every person and initiative that was nominated this year – we value and acknowledge all the incredible work you do to keep our communities active. 

WINNERS ANNOUNCED BELOW! 

 

2023 WAIKATO SPORT & ACTIVE RECREATION AWARDS FINALISTS & WINNERS

Community Sport Delivery (Te Awamutu Rugby Sports & Recreation Club, Waipa)

Community Connection

Waikato Multi-Sport Holiday Programme (Multiple Sporting Organisations, Hamilton)

Sport & Active Recreation Partnership

Children's Dance Classes (ConnectEd Dance Co, Hamilton)

Commitment to Accessibility & Inclusion

Tirau Domain Project (South Waikato District Council)

Outstanding Active Space Initiative

Te Awamutu Boxing Academy (Waipa)

Commitment to Youth Engagement

Hajamie Judo Club - Jamie Hopson (Waipa)

Outstanding By Youth For Youth Initiative

Gabi Peach (Weightlifting, Hamilton)

Community Coach

Vicki Skill (Whiritoa Lifeguard Service, Hauraki)

Community Unsung Hero

Community Connection:  
 
·     Community Sports Delivery (Waipa) 
·     Le Aute Dance Academy Tuakau (Waikato district) 
·     Te Huarahi Hou – New Pathways Programme (Hamilton) 
 
Sport & Active Recreation Partnership:  
 
·     Active Agers Program – a partnership between The Velodrome Cambridge and Mel Engelbrecht from the YMCA (Waipa) 
·     Waikato Multi-Sport Holiday Programme (Hamilton) 
·     Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure (Waikato region) 
 
Outstanding Active Space Initiative:  
 
·     Korikori Park (within Rototuna Village Hub precinct) - Hamilton City Council (Hamilton) 
·     Taupo Historical Cycle Tours – Pedal Safe, Taupo District Council (Taupo) 
·     Tirau Domain Project - South Waikato District Council (South Waikato) 
 
Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusion:  
 
·     ConnectEd Dance Co. Children’s Dance Classes (Hamilton) 
·     GIRL POWA – First Steps Outdoors (Waipa) 
·     Super Beans – Jumping Beans Waikato (Waikato district) 
·     Wai-Tai, Wai-Rua (Waikato district) 
 
Community Unsung Hero:  
 
·     Vicki Skill - Whiritoa Lifeguard Service (Hauraki) 
·     Wesley Hendricks - Titans Futsal Club, Waibop Futsal, NZ Futsal, St Johns College, St Joseph's Chanel school, Hamilton Wanderers Sports Club (Hamilton) 
·     Gaylene Dorssers - College Old Girls, Te Awamutu College and Te Awamutu Netball Centre U18 (Waipa)  
 
Community Coach:
 
·     Gabi Peach - Weightlifting New Zealand/Waikato Weightlifting Club/Waikato Diocesan School for Girls (Hamilton) 
·     Margaret (Margee) Rota - Waikato Treasure Chests Dragonboat Club (Hamilton) 
·     Miha Brown – St Peter Chanel School (Hamilton) 
 
Commitment to Youth Engagement: 
 
·     First Push Skateboarding - Whitianga Skate School (Thames-Coromandel) 
·     Te Awamutu Boxing Academy - (Waipa) 
·     Waikato Wahine Movement (Hamilton) 
 
Outstanding By Youth For Youth Initiative:
 
·     Gabriella Hughes – Tairua Surf LIfesaving Club (Thames-Coromandel) 
·     Hajamie Judo Club – Jamie Hopson (Waipa) 
·     Youth Coaches engaging and growing U12’s Waterpolo - Waikato Waterpolo Club (Hamilton) 

2023 WAIKATO SPORT & ACTIVE RECREATION AWARDS CRITERIA & CATEGORIES

Nominate at: www.wsara.co.nz

 
It's time to get your nominations in, and celebrate the work you have been doing to keep the communities of the Waikato region active! If you've increased participation, accessibilty or inclusion, developed connection to your community, worked with a partner to achieve an awesome result, run a programme in an active space - we want to hear from you. And if you know a great coach or an unsung hero, now's your chance to nominate them. 
 

NEW CATEGORY: Outstanding By Youth For Youth Initiative:

Those people or programmes who support young people (0-24), and help to grow the numbers of young people being more active. 
 

Community Connection:

Those people or organisations that develop programmes that create connection and a great experience for its members or participants. 
 

Sport & Active Recreation Partnership: 

Two or more organisations working together to achieve a physical activity outcome goal.


Outstanding Active Space Initiative: 

The innovative use of spaces such as community halls, parks, gullies, rivers, skateparks - wherever a space has been used to help people be active! This can be those that have developed the space, or those that run initiatives or programmes using the space.


Commitment to Accessibility & Inclusion: 

Programmes or initiatives that are making physical activity opportunities accessible, welcoming and inclusive to meet the needs of marginalised groups, women/girls, ethnic minority groups, or cultural/religious groups to enable those people to be more active.


Community Unsung Hero: 

Those unpaid, unsung heroes/volunteers that have made a real difference in the last 12 months to an initiative or organisation. They can be part of the organisation or an external volunteer that provides volunteer services. 

 

Community Coach: 

A community coach who creates positive team culture, provides a great experience and encourages fun over winning, fair play and commitment to Balance is Better/Good Sports principles.
 

Commitment to Youth Engagement:

Those people or programmes who support young people (0-24), and help to grow the numbers of young people being more active. 

All categories will be judged by our fantastic panel of judges, and finalists and their supporters will be invited to a special awards event to be held at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton on Thursday 26 January 2022 where the winners will be announced!

Nominations close on 29 September 2023.
 

Nominate at: www.wsara.co.nz

2022 Waikato Sport & Active Recreation Awards Winners & Finalists

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

 

Whitianga Skate School (Thames Coromandel)

Community Connection Award

Get Waikato Swimming/Life Jacket Hub (Swimming Waikato, Hamilton)

Sport & Active Recreation Partnership Award

Wahine Toa Secondary School Program (King Country Rugby Union, Taupo)

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion Award

SuperSmash Hubs (Northern Districts Cricket Association, Hamilton)

Outstanding Active Space Initiative Award

Axilia Tricking (South Waikato) JOINT WINNER

Commitment to Youth Engagement Award

Parafed Waikato Youth Group (Hamilton) JOINT WINNER

Commitment to Youth Engagement Award

Sandy Schaare (Powerchair Football, Hamilton)

Community Coach Award

Andrew Langman (Cambridge Athletic & Harrier Club, Waipa)

Community Unsung Hero Award

The finalists were:
 
Community Connection Award: Those people or organisations that develop programmes that create connection and a great experience for its members or participants. 
  • ConnectEd Dance Co. Community Dance Classes
  • First Kicks Expleo Program (Te Awamutu AFC)
  • Whitianga Skate School
Sport & Active Recreation Partnership Award: Two or more organisations working together to achieve a physical activity outcome goal.
  • Forming a Balanced Partnership - Youth Football Hillcrest (Unicol Waikato, Hillcrest High School)(Hamilton)
  • Get Waikato Swimming/LIfe Jacket Hub (Swimming Waikato) (Hamilton)
  • Te Pae Here Kaahui Ako - Trailer Initiative (Hamilton)
Outstanding Active Space Initiative: Any programme or initiative that's held in a space such as community halls, parks, gullies, rivers - wherever a space has been used to help people be active.
  • Ride Coromandel Bike Park - Spirit of Coromandel Trust (Thames Coromandel)
  • SuperSmash Hubs (Northern Districts Cricket) (Hamilton)
  • Youthtown's Waikato Cycling Project - Expansion Initiative (Hamilton)
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Programmes or initiatives that are aimed at (for example) women/girls, ethnic minority groups, disability or cultural/religious groups to enable those people to be more active.
  • Into Nature School (Waipa)
  • Wahine Toa Secondary School Program (King Country Rugby Union) (Taupo)
  • Waikato Treasure Chests Dragon Boat Team - Growth & Development (Hamilton)
Community Unsung Hero: Those unpaid, unsung heroes/volunteers that have made a real difference in the last 12 months to an initiative or organisation.
  • Andrew Langman (Waipa)
  • Kerry Rennie (Waipa)
  • Sean Stringfellow (Waipa)
Community Coach: A community coach who creates positive team culture, provides a great experience and encourages fair play and commitment to Balance is Better/Good Sports principles.
  • Janet Mischewski (Thames Coromandel)
  • Sandy Schaare (Hamilton)
  • Shervan Heu (Hamilton)
Commitment to Youth Engagement: Those people or programmes who support young people (0-24), and help to grow the numbers of young people being more active. 
  • Axilia Tricking (South Waikato)
  • Parafed Waikato Youth Group (Hamilton)
  • Te Awamutu Boxing Academy (Waipa)

2021 WAIKATO SPORT & ACTIVE RECREATION AWARDS FINALISTS & WINNERS

The finalists were:
 
Community Connection Award: Those people or organisations that develop programmes that create connection and a great experience for its members or participants. 
  • Tokoroa Blades
  • Parafed Waikato
  • Te Ara Tukutuku (Te Awamutu Sports)
Sport & Active Recreation Partnership Award: Two or more organisations working together to achieve a physical activity outcome goal.
  • Junior Festival of Rugby 
  • Ride Coromandel Bike Park Development
  • Get Waikato Swimming! (Swimming Waikato)
Outstanding Active Space Initiative: Any programme or initiative that's held in a space such as community halls, parks, gullies, rivers - wherever a space has been used to help people be active.
  • Tamariki & Rangatahi have Got to Get Out
  • Nawton Skate Park Refurbishment
  • Ride Coromandel Bike Park
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Programmes or initiatives that are aimed at (for example) women/girls, ethnic minority groups, disability or cultural/religious groups to enable those people to be more active.
  • Te Awamutu Group Riding for the Disabled
  • Everybody’s Game (The WaterBoy) 
  • Into Nature School
Community Unsung Hero: NEW CATEGORY: Those unpaid, unsung heroes/volunteers that have made a real difference in the last 12 months to an initiative or organisation.
  • Peter van Vroonhoven
  • Peter Loft
  • Rex Hohaia
Community Coach: NEW CATEGORY: A community coach who creates positive team culture, provides a great experience and encourages fair play and commitment to Balance is Better/Good Sports principles.
  • Sandy Katipa-Maikuku
  • Alyssa Hirawani
  • Nano (Rangi) Te Whare
Commitment to Youth Engagement: NEW CATEGORY: Those people or programmes who support young people (0-24), and help to grow the numbers of young people being more active. 
  • Restarting Youth Sailing in Mercury Bay
  • The WaterBoy Sponsorship Programme
  • Perry Outdoor Education Trust (POET) 

2021 WINNERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

For more information, contact us on 07 858 5388 or email awards@sportwaikato.org.nz

 

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