Inaugural UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards Announced

University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand announce inaugural New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards to be run in conjunction with the New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Conference.

The New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Conference is held annually, uniting tertiary recreation, sport and fitness administrators and managers for networking opportunities and conversations surrounding issues that drive the university and tertiary sector. This year the conference is being hosted by Lincoln University, from 29 Nov - 1 Dec.

The inaugural UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards will launch with four categories including a Campus Impact Award, Innovation Award, Community Partnership Award and Service to Recreation Award.

“The idea for the UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards came from our members,” says UTSNZ Executive Director, Sarah Anderson. “It’s time to celebrate and recognise their hard work and achievements as they inspire and enable New Zealand tertiary student well-being through recreation activities, some of whom are doing incredible things.”

Tertiary institutions will be able to enter the UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards by completing an online entry form opening 1 Oct 2023.  Each award entry will be judged by a panel of three judges, selected from within the sport and education network.

The Awards will not only be a chance to celebrate success but will also provide an opportunity to share winners’ stories, showcase their achievements and give nominees the chance to inspire and be inspired by their peers.

Whether sport, fitness/gym, or health related initiatives the categories for the inaugural awards ceremony will include the following:

The Campus Impact Award –recognising a recreation initiative which has had a positive impact on the well-being of the tertiary student community. 

The Innovation Award – recognising a new programme or initiative, specifically targeted at engaging non-participating students in recreation.

The Community Partnership Award – recognising a recreation initiative that meets an identified need within the tertiary institution and/or community; creatively connects campus and community, and engages students, staff, and/or faculty.

The Service to Recreation Award – recognising the contribution made by an individual to tertiary recreation, irrespective of duration, that will have significantly and positively enhanced tertiary recreation services and/or the student recreation experience.

The UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards will be an annual event.

Key dates for the 2023 UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards are as follows:

• 1 October 2023 - Opening of Nominations
• 31 October 2023 - Closing of Nominations
• 30 November – Awards Announced

*Awards to be announced and presented at the 2023 NZ Tertiary Recreation Conference scheduled to take place at Lincoln University, 29 Nov – 1 Dec. Awards will be presented at the dinner function on 30 Nov.

Further information and full details on individual award criteria coming soon.