2026 Recreation Awards finalists announced
October 23, 2026
We’re delighted to announce the finalists for the 2026 Recreation Awards. These awards celebrate the projects, programmes, facilities, and people who are shaping the future of recreation across Aotearoa.
This year we received a fantastic number of nominations! From innovative park developments to inclusive community programmes, this year’s finalists reflect the creativity, collaboration, and commitment driving our sector forward.
Winners will be announced during the Awards Dinner on Thursday 19 November at the upcoming Recreation Leaders' Summit in Tauranga. Take a look back at last year's winners here.
Congratulations to all of our finalists!
Outstanding Awards
Our Outstanding Awards celebrate the outstanding and exceptional within recreation in Aotearoa; from vibrant and community-focused events, groundbreaking developments or redevelopments of a strategy or facility, inspiring community projects, programmes and collaboration and more.
Outstanding Community Recreation Programme
- Adams Academy – Bay Venues and Tauranga City Council
- Adventure Ave – Avon-Ōtākaro Network, Pareawa Banks Avenue School, Christchurch City Council and mana whenua
- Adventure Series – Scouts Aotearoa and Autism Kids Collective
- Building Leaders of Tomorrow – Wellington City Council, Nuku Ora and Capital Kiwi
- Cérge Implementation – Belgravia Leisure
- FlexiFit and SeniorFit – Auckland Council
- Kids in Nature – Hamilton City Council
- Nature’s Classroom – YMCA North, The Y (Camp Adair) and Te Wairoa River Restoration Project
- REPLAY – Sport Taranaki and REPLAY NZ
- Rewilding Rosedale – Te Hōnonga a Iwi, Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Auckland Council, Upper Waitemata Ecology Network, Rangitoto College, Kristin School, Westminster School, Wilson School and Paremoremo Prison
- Kaitiaki Rangatahi Projects – Te Awanui a Rua Charitable Trust
Outstanding Event
- Ka Waewae Tātahi Ki Te Awa Tupua – Te Oranganui
- Manukau Glow Up – Auckland Council and project partners
- Plant and Ride – Hamilton City Council
- Try Games – CLM Community Sport, Rosehill Special School and Kauri Flats School
- Venture – Scouts Aotearoa
Outstanding Research, Planning and Policy
- Nature in the City – Hamilton City Council
- Operational Nature Play Guidelines – Gisborne District Council
- Sandy Point Domain Masterplan – Invercargill City Council
- Social Value of Spaces and Places – Sport New Zealand
- Sports Field Network Plan – Christchurch City Council
Outstanding Park
- Eastview Reserve – Auckland Council, Resilio Studio, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Pāoa
- Te Pae Mahara Roulston War Memorial Park – Auckland Council, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Bespoke Landscape Architects and Lite Civil
Outstanding Recreation Facility
- Bubbles Play Pod – Tauranga City Council
- E-Sports Arena – University of Auckland
- Hiwa Recreation Centre – University of Auckland
- Netball Sports Centre – Christchurch Netball Centre
- Wero Climb – Auckland Council, Waka Pacific Trust and Waikato Tainui
Outstanding Project Over $500,000
- A Community Pool, Reimagined: Dave Hume Swimming Pool, Katikati, BoP – Bay Venues and Western Bay of Plenty District Council
- Barry Curtis Park Playspace – Auckland Council, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Future Landscapes, Playground People, Decker Landscapes, MAKE Architects, TSE Architects, Jacob Scott, Critical, Tree Consultancy, XYST, Shade Systems, Argon, Playtop, Disability Connect, Acorn Autism and Disabled Persons Assembly (DPANZ)
- Park Island Northern Hub Rugby Field Development – Napier City Council, Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports Club, Sport Hawke’s Bay and Unison
- Sensory Aqua Centre – Christchurch City Council
Outstanding Project Under $500,000
- Camp in a Box – Scouts Aotearoa, CLM Community Sport, Te Hihi School and Kori Collabs
- Faulkner Bush Scenic Reserve Playspace – Tasman District Council – Te Kaunihera o te tai o Aorere, Wakefield Community Council and Kūmānu
- Mini Mid Canterbury – Ashburton District Council and Creo
- Petrie Park Regeneration Project – We Are Richmond, Christchurch City Council, Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board, Bridget Allen Design, Avon Ōtākaro Network and Environment Canterbury
- Red Beach Pump Track – Auckland Council
- StoryWalk® at McLaren Falls Park – Tauranga City Council, Allen & Unwin NZ, Kiri Lightfoot and Pippa Keel Situ
- Outdoor Adventure Hub – The Y Hawke’s Bay
- Wai Splash Splash Pad Refurbishment – Tararua Aquatic Community Trust and Lottery Facility Fund
Leadership Awards
Our leadership Awards recognise the individuals helping to inspire and drive change in sector - from new and emerging professionals to veteran leaders, all of whom play a key part in guiding recreation forward.
This year, we are excited to introduce two new award categories: Community Recreation Leader of the Year and Overall Recreation Leader of the Year
Emerging Recreation Professional of the Year
- Alex Ivory - Programme Coordinator at Christchurch Netball Centre
- Hayden Clements - William Pike Challenge Coordinator at YES Disability
- Jasmin Carr - Active Recreation Advisor at Sport Taranaki
- Jess Mellsop - Programmes Team Leader at Upper Hutt City Council
- Josh Carmine - Aquatic Safety Researcher at Drowning Prevention Auckland
- Josh Kelly - Adaptive Coordinator Whakapapa at Whakapapa Ski Area
- Māhinarangi Henry-Campbell - Ngā Puna wai Sports Hub Operations Lead at Christchurch City Council
- Matt Rhodes - Recreation Lead at Auckland Council
- Robert Gulley - Senior Advisor at Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Kāpiti Coast District Council
- Taylor Harvey - Facility Manager at Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Community Leisure Management
- Tom O'Neill - Consultant at XYST
- Tyler Warren - Aquatics Team Leader at Whakatāne District Council
Community Recreation Leader of the Year
- Amber Clyde - Founder at Girls Skate NZ
- Josefa Logavatu - Recreation Coordinator at Nairnville Recreation Centre, Wellington City Council
- Katie Kennedy - Play Advocate at Gisborne District Council
- Michal Janousek - Recreation Team Leader at Auckland Council Pools & Leisure
- Mike Smith - Kaiārahi Zone Leader & National Council at Scouts Aotearoa
- Penny Batchelor - Recreation Programmes Coordinator at Queenstown Lakes District Council
- Steph Duff - Aquatics Manager at Tararua Aquatic Community Trust
Overall Recreation Leader of the Year
- Allan Wainwright - Wānaka Area Recreation Manager at Queenstown Lakes District Council
- Barkin Sertkaya - Esports Coordinator at the University of Auckland
- Cassandra (Cassie) Horton - Senior Open Spaces Planner at Invercargill City Council
- Dillon Charleville - Aquatics and Recreation Manager at Whakatāne District Council
- Kristin Raynes - H2O Xtream Assistant Manager at Upper Hutt City Council
- Mike Page - Aquatic Operations Manager at Bay Venues
- Natalie McNulty - Adventure Series Manager at Scouts Aotearoa
Senior Leadership Awards
For our Senior Leader Awards - the Mark Mitchell, Ian Galloway and Paul Stuart Memorial Awards - we're keeping things mysterious until awards night...