Our Outdoors Awards celebrate the people and places who’ve improved outdoor recreation outcomes across Aotearoa.
Our Outdoors Awards are presented in June as part of the National Outdoors Hui.
See the 2024 Outdoors Awards winners
Award categories
Organisation Awards
Te Tohu - Tiakina Taiao
Environmental Leadership Award
This award recognises a programme, organisation, or event that demonstrates outstanding environmental leadership in outdoor recreation. We are looking for an initiative that nurtures wairuatanga (spiritual connection), positively influences the ecological worldview of participants, and shows a strong commitment to conserving and protecting outdoor recreation places. The initiative should also demonstrate respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its approach and promote best practice in outdoor safety.
Nominations open in March
Te Tohu Whakaaweawe Kaupapa
Outstanding Event / Programme Award
Recognises an event or programme that makes a significant contribution to outdoor recreation and adventure activities in Aotearoa. We are looking for an initiative that builds whanaungatanga / relationships across the sector, engages meaningfully with its community, and demonstrates an environmentally responsible approach. The initiative should also show a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and promote best practice in outdoor safety.
Nominations open in March
Te Tohu Whaiao Māori
Māori Outcomes Award
Recognises a programme or organisation that is making a significant contribution to supporting and engaging with Māori within outdoor recreation in Aotearoa. We are looking for an initiative that demonstrates the meaningful use of tikanga and te reo Māori, shows a strong commitment to employing Māori in governance, management, or delivery roles, and creates opportunities for Māori whānau, hapū, and iwi to participate and lead. The initiative should also take place in locations with whakapapa significance to Māori and reflect practices and activities connected to Māori origins.
Nominations open in March
Leader Award
Te Tohu - Manu Kura
Supreme Award
Recognises an individual with mana in the outdoor sector who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in outdoor recreation. We are looking for a person who embodies rangatiratanga / leadership and who has shown a strong commitment to mentoring, guiding, or supporting others. The individual should have contributed to significant initiatives, programmes, or events within outdoor recreation, and demonstrate an approach that recognises and respects the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Nominations open in March
Nomination eligibility
Any individual or organisation working in parks, play, and open spaces can be nominated for a Parks Award.
- Leader Award – the person must be nominated by another party.
- Organisation Award – an organisation can nominate themselves or be nominated by another party.
How to nominate
- Complete the nomination form, providing clear data or evidence showing how the applicant meets each judging criterion.
- Include three high-quality images to support your nomination.
- If the nomination is for a Leader Award, please provide a headshot of the nominee.
Nomination essentials
- All nominations must be submitted electronically. We do not accept hard copy nominations.
- You must respond to every judging criterion for your category.
- Outdoor leaders can be nominated for Emerging Leader, Recreation Leader of the Year and Manu Kura.
- Nominations that don’t supply relevant evidence for each criterion will likely receive lower scores. Please take the time to familarise yourself with the criteria:
- Leader Awards – Criteria
- Organisation Awards Criteria will be posted early 2026
- Photos and videos supplied as part of your nomination may be used during the Awards presentation and in Recreation Aotearoa marketing, including our website, social media channels, and media.
- Please provide clear, well-lit images, taken in a mix of landscape (horizontal) and portrait (vertical) orientation. Avoid blurry photos, screenshots, or images with heavy filters.
- Winners are not notified before the Awards ceremony. We want to keep it a surprise. We encourage all nominees to attend the dinner.
- The Recreation Aotearoa judging panel reserves the right to move a nomination to a different category if they believe it is more appropriate.