Community Service Awards are given to individuals and groups in recognition of significant voluntary service.

Council's Community Service Awards are a way of giving well-deserved recognition to 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 it's for youth, older adults, education, culture, church, recreation, sport or community service fields, we want to make sure 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.

  • Friday 12 March – Nominations open.
  • Friday 16 April, 5pm – Nominations close
  • May – respective Community Boards consider nominations.
  • May/June – nominees and nominators will be advised of the decision.
  • June/July – recipients receive awards at a ceremony hosted by their local Community Boards.
  • Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks-Peninsula
  • Waihoro/Spreydon-Cashmere
  • Waikura/Linwood-Central-Heathcote
  • Waipuna/Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton
  • Waitai/Coastal-Burwood

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 community board area where the nominee lives.

Non-participating Community Boards

  • Waimāero/Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
  • Waipapa/Papanui-Innes

Youth Service Awards are presented in recognition of significant voluntary service carried out by residents aged 25 or under, living in either the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton, Spreydon-Cashmere and Linwood-Central-Heathcote Board areas only.

This award is to recognise individual effort rather than that of a whole group or organisation.

Nominating someone you value within your organisation, club or society is easy.

Here's how to get started:

  1. 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.
  2. Provide details on what the nominee has achieved to be nominated and how long they’ve been volunteering for.
  3. Think about how the community has benefitted from their service.
  4. 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.

Nominations closed Friday 16 April.