Awards recognise 800,000 volunteers

Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ) and MORE FM are encouraging Kiwis to say thanks to the 800,000 volunteers who help make sport possible in New Zealand.

Each year volunteers give 50 million hours of their time to helping others enjoy sport and it will only take a minute for them to be thanked with a nomination in the Sport Volunteer Awards.

Regional award winners will be decided by the 17 regional sports trusts (e.g. Sport Wellington) and will receive prizes at local events. Regional winners will also be in the running for the title of New Zealand Sports Volunteer of the Year. The winner will be flown to the annual New Zealand Sport & Recreation Awards where they will be presented with a trophy in front of leaders of the sport sector.

Sport NZ Chief Executive Peter Miskimmin says "the awards help recognise people who put their hearts and souls into helping out. Community sport in New Zealand cant survive without volunteers. The awards are a way of saying thanks and letting them know their contribution has been noticed. I really encourage people to get those nominations in."

For more information go to www.sportnz.org.nz/volunteers

Image courtesy of Sport Hawke's Bay. 

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