Our Aquatics Awards celebrate the innovations and individuals making waves in the New Zealand aquatics industry.
Nominations are open for the Aquatics Awards 2025, closing at 4pm on Monday 30 June 2025.
Awards will be presented at the Waves Awards dinner on 22 August 2025.
Award categories
Aquatic Innovation Award - Operations
This award recognises the success of a project that shows innovation, community engagement, industry leadership and overall sustainability. We are looking for an innovation that enhances the aquatic experience, streamlines the operation of the facility and/or contributes to the wider industry.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
See who won the Aquatic Innovation Award in 2024
Aquatic Innovation Award - Programmes
This award recognises the success of a programme that shows innovation, community engagement, industry leadership and overall sustainability. We are looking for an innovation that enhances the aquatic experience, streamlines the operation of the facility and/or contributes to the wider industry.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
See who won the Aquatic Innovation Award in 2024
Lifeguard of the Year Award
The Lifeguard of the Year Award recognises an outstanding lifeguard who contributes to their facility, community and the aquatics industry in Aotearoa. We are looking for those exceptional people that enhance the aquatic experience for both customers and staff through their enthusiasm and professionalism.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
See who won Lifeguard of the Year in 2024
Outstanding Pool Award
This is for an outstanding facility where the principal purpose of the built structure is aquatic recreation. It is important that sufficient objective data/evidence is provided for areas such as ‘usage’ and ‘finance’. Note: The facility must have current Poolsafe® status.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
See who won Outstanding Pool 2024
Aquatics Awards guide
We've pulled together a handy guide to help you submit a nomination for an Aquatics Award.
Who can apply
- Any organisation or individual who is involved in aquatics.
- An organisation can apply for recognition themselves or be nominated by another party.
- The Lifeguard of the Year will be awarded to an individual.
- Applicants need to be members of Recreation Aotearoa.
How to apply
Nominating a person or applying for an award is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
- Complete the application/nomination form, providing data/evidence to show how the applicant meets each of the judging criteria.
- Provide a one-minute video, giving an overview of the applicant.
- Include three photos of the applicant, including a headshot.
Important things to note
- All nominations are to be made electronically - no hard copies will be accepted.
- You must respond to each of the judging criteria specified for each award. Applicants that do not provide relevant evidence for each criteria will likely score lower than those who do.
- Photos and videos may be used to introduce applicants and winners at the Awards presentation dinner, and in external marketing on the Recreation Aotearoa website and social media channels.
- Winners will NOT be notified prior to the Awards’ ceremony. We want to keep it a surprise. We encourage all nominees to attend the awards dinner.