Open Call for the Kawerau Young Achievers Awards (New Zealand)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

Entries are now open for the Kawerau Young Achievers Awards, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate young people from the Kawerau district in New Zealand for outstanding achievements in sports, academic, and cultural activities at district, regional, North Island, and national levels. The program formally acknowledges the accomplishments of young people and highlights the significant contributions that individuals and teams from the Kawerau district make on regional and national stages.

About the Kawerau Young Achievers Awards

The Kawerau Young Achiever program is designed to formally recognize outstanding young people within the Kawerau district. The awards celebrate achievements across several areas, including sports, cultural activities, academic pursuits, youth service, and training groups. Recognition is provided through a Gold, Silver, and Bronze award structure, with the level of recognition determined by the nature and level of the achievement. Purpose of the Awards

The program aims to:

- Celebrate outstanding achievements by young people. - Recognize individuals and teams from the Kawerau district. - Highlight sporting accomplishments. - Celebrate academic achievements. - Recognize cultural contributions. - Acknowledge youth service and training achievements. - Showcase achievements at district, regional, North Island, and national levels. - Encourage young people to continue contributing to their communities and representing the district. Who Can Be Recognized? The opportunity is open to young people residing in the Kawerau district up to and including secondary school level. Eligible young achievers can be recognized either: - As an individual; or - As a member of a team. Achievements may be considered across sports, academic pursuits, cultural activities, youth service, and relevant training groups. Gold Awards Gold Awards provide the highest level of recognition within the program. They celebrate young achievers who have reached significant levels of success at national or North Island events.

Gold recognition includes:

- Top three placings at national events. - Top three placings at North Island events. - National awards for youth service. - National-level recognition in cultural events. - Recognition for national-level training groups. These awards highlight achievements that demonstrate success at some of the highest competitive or representative levels. Silver Awards Silver Awards recognize significant achievements at the regional and representative level.

Eligible achievements include:

- First placings at Bay of Plenty regional events. - First placings at Waikato regional events. - Regional awards for youth service. - Regional awards for training groups. - Selection to represent New Zealand. - Selection to represent the North Island. Silver recognition therefore acknowledges young people who have achieved outstanding results regionally or have been selected for significant representative opportunities. Bronze Awards Bronze Awards recognize strong achievements at district and regional levels.

They honor:

- First placings at Eastern Bay of Plenty events. - Second or third placings at Bay of Plenty regional events. - Second or third placings at Waikato regional events. These awards provide recognition for young people who have demonstrated notable success within their wider regional sporting, cultural, or other activities. Achievements in Sports Sport is one of the key areas recognized through the Kawerau Young Achievers Awards. Young people can be nominated for achievements at different competitive levels, including Eastern Bay of Plenty, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, North Island, and national events. Recognition can be based on placing, selection, or other qualifying sporting accomplishments depending on the award level. Academic Achievements The program also recognizes young people for academic accomplishments. Academic achievements can be included when submitting a nomination, allowing young people to receive recognition for their success beyond sporting activities. The awards therefore provide a broader platform for celebrating excellence among students within the Kawerau district. Cultural Achievements Cultural activities are another important area of recognition. Young people involved in cultural events or activities can be nominated for recognition based on the level and nature of their achievements. National and regional cultural awards are specifically included within the Gold and Silver recognition categories. Youth Service and Training Groups The program also recognizes achievements beyond conventional competitions. Young people can receive recognition for youth service, while qualifying training groups can also be acknowledged at regional or national levels. This allows the program to celebrate contributions and accomplishments that demonstrate commitment, leadership, development, and service. Individual and Team Nominations Young achievers can be nominated either as individuals or as members of a team. This means the awards can recognize both personal accomplishments and achievements made collectively through sporting teams, cultural groups, or other qualifying groups. Who Can Nominate a Young Achiever? Parents, coaches, aunties, and uncles are invited to nominate eligible young achievers. Nominators should provide information about the young person’s qualifying accomplishments and demonstrate the level at which the achievement occurred. What Should a Nomination Include? A nomination should clearly detail the young person’s achievements.

Relevant information may include:

- The young person’s sporting achievements. - Academic accomplishments. - Cultural achievements. - Youth service achievements. - Training group achievements where applicable. - The event or activity involved. - The relevant district, regional, North Island, or national level. - Competition placing where applicable. - Representative selection where applicable. - Whether the