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.

Community Awards Finalists 2025
The winners on stage at our Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards 2024

The winners at our awards ceremony in 2024. 

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 work hard to make a difference for those who call Kāpiti home. Based on public nominations, these Council awards recognise exemplary service or leadership in our 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 temea nui o Te Ao, mākū e 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 2025 Kāpiti Good Sorts Awards are now closed. 

Nominees will be invited to a local awards ceremony on Thursday 7 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 assess 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.

    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.

    Nominate

    Nominations for the 2025 Wellington Airport Community Awards are now closed. 

    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 eligibility.

    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

    Date Activity
    Tuesday 1 April Nominations open
    5pm, Saturday 31 May  Nominations close
    Late June Judging panel consider nominations
    Thursday 7 August Kāpiti Awards ceremony
    November Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards ceremony


    Awards ceremonies

    Kāpiti Coast District Council hosts a local awards ceremony for both the Kāpiti Good Sorts and Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards. The ceremony will be held on Thursday 7 August.  

    Kāpiti Local 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 this awards dinner.