Kāpiti Good Sorts and Community Awards

Our annual Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding contributions of our local residents, while the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards are a way to recognise groups and organisations that help make Kāpiti a great place to live.

Make sure you check out our most recent nominees!

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Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards

The Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards recognise individual residents who’ve made a lasting impact in the community. It’s about celebrating our local heroes – those who care about our community and are taking action to make a difference for those who call Kāpiti home. Based on public nominations, Council gives awards for exemplary service or leadership for their community. 

Good Sorts criteria 

Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards are awarded to individuals who show kotahitanga (community spirit) by: 

• Taha Rangatira - leading by example, through compassion and kindness, to support and serve our communities.
• Taha Manaaki - enhancing the wellbeing of vulnerable people in our community.
• Taha whānau -  creating new ways to help our communities be safe, healthy, thriving, and connected. 

He aha te mea nui o Te Ao, mākū e kī atu he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.  
What is the most important thing in the world. It is people, people, people. 

Nominate

Nominations for the Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards 2024 open on Wednesday 1 May and close at 5pm, Friday 31 May.

Nominees will be invited to a local awards ceremony on Wednesday 28 August, where the winners will be announced. 

Eligibility  

• Nominees must be a Kāpiti resident.
• Elected members and Kāpiti Coast District Council employees are not eligible for these awards.  

Judging

Our judging panel assessed the merits of each nomination against the following criteria and supporting evidence to decide who'll receive a Kāpiti Good Sorts award.

• the reason for the nomination, including the extent to which the above criteria was met
• whether the contribution is substantially voluntary in nature
• the benefit and impact of the actions or activities within the district
• the nature of the communities positively affected (this may include neighbours, households, hāpu, iwi, and other groups within the district)
• any other supporting information or evidence.

Nominees

Congratulations to the following Good Sorts nominated in 2024:

• Michelle Rudd
• Susan Kent
• Leonie Ware
• Jimi Percia
• Michele Wilson
• Heather Paul
• Chrissy Anderson
• Craig Thomson
• Carolyn Tristram
• Rebecca Bond
• Tony and Sheila Hart
• Robin Gunston
• Brian Seymour

• Sue Spellacey
• John Roger
• Allan Dickson
• Denise Brennock
• Roger Booth
• Peter Ellis
• Alan Dickson
• Lily Richardson
• Matalena Vaeluaga
• Michael Cheetham
• Jessica Keltie
• Clare Roper

Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards

Kāpiti Coast District Council, together with Wellington Airport, work together to honour the efforts made by groups of residents in our district.

The Wellington Airport Regional Awards recognise the contributions made by community groups in six categories:

• arts and culture
• education and child/youth development
• health and wellbeing
• heritage and environment
• sport and leisure
• rising star category for emerging groups.

Note: these awards recognise community groups and organisations, not individual volunteers. 

Finalists

The local finalists for the Wellington Airport Community Awards 2024 have been announced. Congratulations to all the local community award finalists.

• Birthright Kāpiti
• Cancer Society Kāpiti 
• Citizens Advice Bureau Kāpiti
• Coastguard Kāpiti Coast 
• Discover Kāpiti Heritage Group
• Friday Food Share
• HUHA NZ
• Kāpiti Art Studio
• Kāpiti Foodbank
• Kāpiti Hidden Books
• Kāpiti Kiwis Network Group
• Kāpiti Te Hāhi
• Kāpiti Underwater Club
• Kāpiti Women's Centre
• Kāpiti Youth Support
• Mary Potter Hospice - Kāpiti
• Ōtaki Kids Market

• Ōtaki Women's Community Club
• Paraparaumu Scout Group
• Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club - Wellington Chapter
• Reset Cleans Wellington
• SeniorNet Kāpiti
• Society of St Vincent de Paul, Kāpiti
• Te Ara Korowai
• Te Kura Waka O Whātonga Charitable Trust
• Te Whare o Rēhia Ōtaki Toy Library
• The Nest Collective
• The Shed Project
• Tū Mātau Ora
• Waikanae Estuary Care Group
• Waikanae Surfing Club
• Work Ready Kāpiti

Finalists will be invited to our local awards ceremony on Wednesday 28 August, where the local winners will be announced. 

The winners of each local Community Award category are automatically entered into the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards, with the ceremony held in Wellington on Thursday 21 November.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to vote for the finalists in the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards’ People’s Choice Award.

Eligibility 

Advisory groups that receive significant financial support from Council for the mahi they are being nominated for may not be eligible for a community award.  Contact [email protected] to discuss their eligibility further.

Judging

Local nominations for both the Kāpiti Good Sorts and Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards are judged by our local panel of Mayor Janet Holborow and our community board chairs.

Timeline

Awards ceremonies

Kāpiti Coast District Council hosts a local awards ceremony for both the Kāpiti Good Sorts and Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

Local Kāpiti Community Award winners are also invited to attend a Regional Community Awards dinner hosted by Wellington Airport.

The regional category, People's Choice and Supreme Award winners are announced at an awards dinner hosted by Wellington Airport.

The Supreme Winner will receive a cash prize, an advertising package, and a framed certificate, along with a trophy that is held for one year.