Our Community Service Awards give well-deserved recognition to the people who make our communities better places to live.
They are a way of thanking and honouring volunteers who, without pay and with little recognition, demonstrate dedication and passion, inspiring others to make service a central part of their lives.
Whether for youth, older adults, education, culture, church, recreation, sport or community service fields, we want to ensure volunteers are thanked and honoured for their dedication.
We only find out about these people through you. If you know of someone who deserves recognition for their community service, nominate them for a Community Service Award.
Timeline
March
Nominations open Friday 7 March 2025.
Nominations close at 5pm on Sunday 6 April 2025.
May
Respective Community Boards consider nominations.
June
Nominees and nominators will be advised of the decision.
Recipients will be invited to receive awards at a ceremony hosted by their local Community Board.
Depending on the Community Board, recipients may be invited to receive their award at a ceremony hosted by their local Community Board o or have it posted to them.
March
Nominations open Friday 7 March 2025.
Nominations close at 5pm on Sunday 6 April 2025.
May
Respective Community Boards consider nominations.
June
Nominees and nominators will be advised of the decision.
Recipients will be invited to receive awards at a ceremony hosted by their local Community Board.
Depending on the Community Board, recipients may be invited to receive their award at a ceremony hosted by their local Community Board o or have it posted to them.
Participating Community Boards
Community Boards participating in 2025
Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote
Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton
Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood
Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community Service Award nominations are considered and decided by the respective Community Boards.
People will be eligible for Community Service Awards in the area in which they work, however, if the work is in a metropolitan organisation covering more than two board areas, then the nomination shall be considered in the board area where the nominee does the majority of their voluntary work.
Community Boards not participating in 2025
Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula
Youth Service Awards
Youth Service Awards are presented in recognition of significant voluntary service carried out by residents aged 25 or under.
Community Boards participating this year are Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton, Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood, and Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote.
This award is to recognise individual effort rather than that of a whole group or organisation.
How to nominate
Nominating someone you value within your organisation, club or society is easy.
Here's how to get started:
Make sure you have two people who are prepared to put their names on the nomination form. Both must be aware of the details of the nomination.
Think about how the community has benefitted from their service, what the nominee has achieved to be nominated and how long they’ve been volunteering.
Collect supporting information like a letter of support or evidence of their service. Try to include as much evidence to support your nomination as you can to assist the Community Board in their decision.
