Awards recognise NZ recreation's top performers

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Awards recognise NZ recreation's top performers

New Zealand’s recreation industry recognised 10 inspiring individuals and organisations at the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) Awards, held in Wellington last night.

NZRA Chief Executive Andrew Leslie said the awards acknowledged people and organisations whose efforts and initiatives have markedly improved the recreation experiences of New Zealanders.

“It gives me enormous pleasure to present these awards in recognition of the people, organisations and programmes that are significantly helping our communities enjoy better recreation opportunities,” he said.

This year’s award winners include Te Ara Piko, a shared pathway around the Pauatahanui inlet near Porirua, which won the Outstanding Project award. The pathway was jointly developed by the Porirua City Council and the Rotary Club of Plimmerton.

Sport Beyond School, an Auckland pilot primarily funded by Sport New Zealand to encourage school leavers to continue participating in recreation and sport, picked up the Outstanding Community Recreation Programme award. The Outstanding Facility award went to the Arataki Community Centre in Tauranga, while Auckland’s Albany Lakes Civic Park picked up the Outstanding Park award.

The Coastlands Aquatic Centre in Kapiti received the Outstanding Pool award, and the Outstanding Research, Planning, and Policy award went to the Hamilton City Council’s Playgrounds of the Future programme, which aims to build partnerships between local government and the community for sustainable recreation opportunities.

Individual award winners included Grant MacLeod, Emerging Recreation Leader of the Year; Richard Lindsay, who received the Mark Mitchell Memorial Trophy; Chris Close, recipient of the Ian Galloway Memorial Cup, and Paul Stuart Memorial Award winner Craig Carter.

Auckland’s Tepid Baths Redevelopment and Parrs Park were highly commended respectively in the Outstanding Project and Outstanding Park categories.

“We had many inspiring entries this year and we had to make some tough choices. Everyone on this list stands out for their passion and commitment,” Mr Leslie said.

The Awards Dinner was held at the Michael Fowler Centre, as part of NZRA’s National Conference being held in Wellington this week.

ENDS

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