BACKGROUND 

The Community Impact Award has been developed to recognise and celebrate industry excellence within Northland’s play, active recreation and sport sector. All nominees that meet the criteria will be recognised at the virtual 2025 Northland Sports Awards to be held in March 2026. Any nomination the judging panel deem outstanding may be awarded an additional ‘outstanding’ title. 


Community Impact Award 

The purpose of the Community Impact Award is to identify, celebrate, promote and encourage collaborative community projects which have a positive impact in and on the community through play, active recreation and sport. Nominations should highlight the collaborations involved, why the initiative was set up and what the positive impact has been because of it.  

Nominations for the Community Impact Award will need to answer: 

  • What was the opportunity or issue that the organisation identified / why was the initiative set up?  

  • What were the collaborative efforts between the different partners (this can include community) 

  • In what ways has the community supported this project (evidence required) 

  • What has been the positive impact on the community and outcome of the initiative? 


Who Can Apply? 

This award is open to any play, active recreation or sport provider and can include not-for-profits, non-commercial organisations, private providers, Territorial Authority’s, health agencies and schools based in Northland as long as the initiative or project has a play, active recreation or sport focus.  


Criteria:

The initiative must meet the following criteria in order to be recognised:  

  • Must not have previously received a Community Impact Award for the same project 

  • The initiative must be based in Northland and be for Northland people 

  • The initiative needs to be play, active recreation or sport focused 

  • The initiative should show collaborative efforts 

  • The initiative should demonstrate clear benefits and impact for the community 


Other relevant information: 

  • The initiative can be either new or something that has been ongoing 

  • Applicants can provide photos, testimonies, videos etc to support your application 

  • The period for nomination is up to 30 January 2026, with applications closing on 31 January 2026. 


Congratulations to the following Community Impact Award Recipients for 2024:

  • Bay of Islands Gymnastics Club
  • Sail Northland Charitable Trust
  • Sports Gear Revived
  • Gym Minis & Music Minis

You can read more about our wonderful recipients on our Facebook page.