Media Release: Thursday 14 May 2018

Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom’s astonishing run of success in national and international awards continues with yesterday’s announcement that the project is a finalist for the Creative New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Best Creative Place in the Local Government New Zealand EXCELLENCE Awards 2018.

The announcement was made less than a month after Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom won the Public Architecture Award at the New Zealand Institute of Architects Western Architecture Awards and the Museum Project Excellence Award at the New Zealand Museum Awards.

In addition, the Foxton community hub has been named as a finalist for NEC Project of the Year at the upcoming international NEC Awards 2018, to be presented in London on 20 June.

Horowhenua District Council Chief Executive David Clapperton is delighted with the recognition Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is receiving.

“These awards reflect growing national and international recognition that Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is a great asset for our community and an outstanding example of what we can achieve by working together,” he said.

Mr Clapperton said Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom was developed as an innovative cultural collaboration between Horowhenua District Council, the Dutch Connection Trust and Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust.

“The success of that model is now receiving a lot of well-deserved attention and interest. Everyone involved in making Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom a reality can be very proud.”

Judges for the Local Government New Zealand EXCELLENCE Awards said Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom “Demonstrated an innovative, cross-cultural initiative combining a number of facilities and resources for the preservation and development of the cultural, social, and economic heritage and wellbeing of the district’s communities that has garnered good local support including from local hapū and iwi”.

Now in their fifth year, the Local Government New Zealand EXCELLENCE Awards recognise and celebrate the key leadership role that local government plays in communities around the country.

This year saw the highest number of entries in the Awards’ history. Finalists incorporate best practice criteria under Local Government New Zealand’s CouncilMARK™ excellence programme.

Winners will be announced at the Local Government New Zealand conference dinner in Christchurch on 16 July.

ENDS

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