Wellington Wins Big at New Zealand Recreation Industry Awards

The New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) believes recreation creates great New Zealanders. People who are healthy and well connected to their communities and the environment grow up with the opportunity to pursue their dreams and make lasting contributions to society.

The recreation industry encompasses the people, places and organisations that enable these experiences to occur and the NZRA Awards honour the people who are integral to making New Zealand a world leader in recreation.

The 2017 award winners represent the quality recreation opportunities available in New Zealand.

The Outstanding Recreation Programme Award was hotly contested and judges gave two merit awards this year. One went to YMCA Auckland for Jumpstart – a 10 week programme of exercise and coaching, targeting diabetic and pre-diabetic people. The other went to Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation for their work helping adults understand the likely impact that their actions and attitudes have on children in sport.

The overall winner of the category was Wellington City Council for SHIFT. They have been empowering Wellington’s young women into physical activity since March 2016 and the programme is now being delivered across the region and has built over 70 partnerships with individuals and organisations who are passionate about young women’s wellbeing.

There were 2 merits given before the overall winner of Outstanding Recreation Facility was announced. Lincoln Events Centre, managed by Selwyn District Council and Mt Albert Community & Leisure Facility managed by YMCA of Auckland were the recipients.

The ASB Sports Centre, managed by Wellington City Council won the overall award. The Centre prides itself on being community focussed; hiring out space to groups, clubs and regional sports organisations seven days a week rather than restricting the number of days available to them, so it can take on more lucrative conferences and expos. Despite this, the Centre has impressive financial results which it has secured through innovative thinking and programming to ensure continual growth.

Merits in the Outstanding Park category were given to Otari Native Botanic Garden & Wilton’s Bush Reserve and Kopurererua Valley. The award winner was Auckland Botanic Gardens, which spans 64 hectares and is home to more than 100,000 plants from around the world. With hard work and creative thinking, it has seen visitor numbers increase from around 365,000 per annum in 2005 to 1 million in 2016.

The Mark Mitchell Memorial Trophy was awarded to Glenn McGovern. Glenn has worked across the sector for 29 years and has played a key role in developing Wellington recreation facilities over the last 2 decades.

The NZRA Awards were presented at an awards dinner held last night at the TSB Showplace, New Plymouth during NZRA's Recreation Conference.

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