Nominating someone for the Taranaki Sports Awards can boost your whole club, team or sporting community.

Anna Crawford, who nominated Taranaki Orienteering chair Nick Collins for an Impact Award in 2022, said it was a great way to get the sport into the spotlight. Nick had worked tirelessly for navigation sports in Taranaki and beyond for over 30 years but like many volunteers, he never sought recognition.

But nominating him had been positive for their whole community.

“The Sports Awards gave the club an opportunity to celebrate someone who has a real impact at all levels of the sport as well as help boost our sports profile amongst the community as we aim to keep getting more people involved."

The sport in Taranaki is booming, with club numbers growing and plenty of people turning up to events, she says.

“What we are noticing is a lot more families coming to our events.”

The club ran a successful training day recently, geared at all levels of people and they are planning another in the near future.

The sport is due to get another boost in late January 2024, with the Lonely Mountain Sprints, with Nick as race director, forming part of the Oceania Sprint Championships, an international competition drawing elite competitors from around the world. There will also be a range of events targeted for local competitors.

“It really helps to get the word out and being part of the Sports Awards was a great way to do that,” she said.

Sport Taranaki CEO Michael Carr said with 13 categories up for grabs there were awards covering the whole active spectrum.

“Whether you do the mahi in the background supporting your club or team or are on the field winning titles there’s room for you at the Awards.”

He was particularly keen to see team nominations coming in at secondary school level from across the province.

“There are some incredible performances from secondary school or age group teams across Taranaki – but sometimes we haven’t always seen the nominations come in that we would expect.”

The awards team was working with the Taranaki Secondary Schools’ Association, coaches, and sports co-ordinators to help with the nomination process.  

“Making an online nomination is easy and can be a big boost for not just the nominee, but all their supporters as well,” Michael said.

Nominations can be made online here. They close 6 October.