2025 Regional Winners
Every year, Wellington Airport and the five local councils come together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards. The focus of the awards is to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society.
2025 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards Winners
- Supreme Award: Māoriland Charitable Trust
- Arts and Culture: Māoriland Charitable Trust
- Education and Child/Youth Development: Ōtaki Kids Market (Ōtaki Women’s Community Club)
- Health and Wellbeing: Friends of the Emergency Department (FED) - Hato Hone St John
- Heritage and Environment: Ghost Diving NZ
- Sport and Leisure: City Suburbs Girls and Women’s Cricket Community
- Rising Star Award: Heavy Hitterz
- People’s Choice Award: Arohanui Strings +
Meet all the 30 community groups recognised around the region in the 2025 Community Awards:
41 (City of Porirua) Squadron Air Training Corps
41 City of Porirua Squadron Air Training Corps mission is to develop and enable self-disciplined, confident and responsible young New Zealanders. They achieve this through core values of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity. Throughout the year they engage in community events such as citizenship ceremonies and memorial services. They conduct adventure training such as camping and tramping and offer our cadets the opportunity to go target shooting and flying.
Ahu Charitable Trust (Pukerua Bay Hub)
Together with their community, Ahu Charitable Trust transformed an empty building into a welcoming place of connection and creativity. The Pukerua Bay Hub Pop-up Parlour was a month-long experiment in community skills-sharing and mutual aid. More than 1,000 people took part in almost 50 volunteer-led activities. They danced, played, worked, up-cycled and planted together, shared kai and books, competed, explored and reflected, we made art and traded. The Pop-up Parlour unleashed the power of community spirit and resilience, from which new projects and friendships have bloomed!
Arohanui Strings+
Arohanui Strings+ make music together - strings, winds, brass – all welcome. Their lessons are free, so no one misses out. Students grow in resilience, teamwork, friendship and confidence and get to perform in amazing places. They come from many different backgrounds, but at Arohanui Strings+ they are one orchestra. Music connects us, lifts us, and helps us grow - that’s the Arohanui Strings+ way! .
City Suburbs Girls and Women's Cricket Community
City Suburbs Women’s and Girls’ Cricket is an exciting initiative created to provide cricket opportunities for women and girls of all ages living in Wellington’s central suburbs. Whether you're new to the game or have played before, this is a fun and welcoming community with a strong focus on connection, development and enjoyment. The initiative is proudly led by four city-based clubs: Karori, Vic Uni, Eastern Suburbs and Brooklyn. Championed, informed & led by data & the views of the club's female participants it breaks the mold of a traditional cricket offering & challenged the status quo.
Forest & Bird Lower Hutt Branch
The Lower Hutt branch of Forest & Bird – New Zealand’s longest running conservation organisation have famously spent decades recloaking Matiu/Somes Island in native forest, transforming barren farmland into a predator-free scientific reserve where they continue their mahi today. At sites in Manor Park and Waiu Wetland in Wainuiomata, volunteers trap pests, clear weeds and plant a diverse range of native plants raised in their own nurseries. The branch are proudly celebrating 50 years of community-led conservation in 2025! .
FERNZ Hutt Valley
Foundation for Equity and Research New Zealand (FERNZ) Hutt Valley Community Action Group are disabled community members turning lived experience into real change. From footpaths… to policy…they know what needs to be changed. They know what change should look like. And they’re making it happen — one barrier at a time. Inclusion isn’t a favour – it’s a right. Together, they’re making it real in the Hutt Valley – bold, visible… and making their mark.
FERNZ Porirua
Foundation for Equity and Research New Zealand (FERNZ) Porirua Community Action Group are disabled community members using lived experience to spark change. From streets…to council chambers…their lived experience shows what’s not working. They know what needs to be changed, and they’re driving it one action at a time, building equity and inclusion so no one is left behind. FERNZ Porirua CAG – the collective voice for change.
Friends of the Emergency Department (FED) - Hato Hone St John
Friends of the Emergency Department (FED) are a team of 50 volunteers known as FEDs (Friends of the Emergency Department) at the Hutt Hospital. For eight years, 7 days a week, from 10am to 10pm, they’ve been there in the Emergency Department, offering comfort, a listening ear, and practical support to patients, whānau, and staff. In moments of uncertainty and stress, they bring calm, kindness, and compassion. As volunteers they receive more than they give in the many thanks from patients, support people and staff.
Ghost Diving NZ
Ghost Diving New Zealand Charitable Trust are a team of committed volunteers consisting of scuba and free divers, kayak and boat team and a shore team that will carry, sort and catalogue the rubbish and animals that are found trapped in the rubbish and debris. They organise dive clean-ups all around Wellington and New Zealand. Their aim is to educate and provide a better environment for future generations of Kiwis to enjoy the moana. .
Heavy Hitterz
Heavy Hitterz isn’t just a training crew, it’s a movement. People from all walks of life come together to train, grow, and push limits, no matter where they’re starting from. What makes Heavy Hitterz different is the kaupapa - a judgment-free zone where there’s no ego, no pressure to "look" a certain way, and definitely no barriers to giving it a go. They challenge the old-school thinking around who gets to call themselves an athlete. Here, if you show up and give your best, you already are one. Their mindset is simple: “If they can do it, then we can too.”
Heretaunga Bookfest Community Trust
Bookfest is a charitable trust that raises funds at an annual book sale held first weekend in May in Upper Hutt. They collect and sell donated books, magazines, jigsaws, DVD’s and records. Over the 30 years of Bookfest, income has exceeded $1.5m, most of which has been distributed to charities. Their workforce team is entirely volunteers. They are proud to support organisations in the greater Hutt Valley area to pursue their charitable causes.
Hutt Valley Saints Softball Club
Hutt Valley Saints Softball Club are a female focused softball club supporting players of all ages and skill levels in a safe, inclusive environment. They have strong representation in national teams and regional success, and field female-only teams across all grades and mixed-gender teams at junior levels. Their Pay it Forward programme and Te Rito Saints kaupapa support youth and cultural development. They offer discounted fees, host long-running tournaments, and foster USA college scholarship opportunities. Their dedicated members make the club vibrant, proactive, and community-driven.
Kāpiti Women’s Triathlon
Kāpiti Women’s Triathlon is a supportive, fun and empowering community event for women of all ages, fitness levels and backgrounds. They offer swim, bike and run options from beginner friendly to challenging ,so every woman can achieve their own personal goal. They believe in confidence through participation, friendship through shared experiences and joy through movement. Kāpiti Women’s Triathlon’s mission is simple, to inspire women to give it a go and celebrate the finish line together.
Kumutoto Stream Restoration Group
The Kumutoto Restoration project is committed to the restoration of the Kumutoto awa, ngahere, history and story of this wāhi tūpuna fresh waterway of Pōneke/Wellington. Participants will experience the full length of the 1.5km piped stream via a self-guided audio tour, tracing it’s path while learning the history of freshwater in Pōneke and the effect of the last 185 years of settlement, ending at the fully restored stream and forest. They hope to educate, inspire and help create the informed healthy future of Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington.
Māoriland Charitable Trust
Māoriland Charitable Trust celebrates Indigenous creativity for the wellbeing of all people. Based in Ōtaki, they are home to the Māoriland Film Festival – the largest Indigenous film festival in the world – and operate year-round as a hub for creativity, collaboration and community. At the heart of Māoriland’s mahi is a belief in the power of Indigenous knowledge, language and identity to transform lives. They work locally and globally, guided by kaupapa Māori values of ohooho, manaakitanga, kotahitanga, and kaitiakitanga. Māoriland is a place where community gathers, where young people are inspired, and where stories ignite change.
Natural Leaders
Natural Leaders is a grassroots crime-prevention and leadership incubator disguised as a bushcraft adventure. Started by Every Body is a Treasure Trust, Ngati Toa - Youth Truancy Services, with collaborative support from Maidstone Intermediate, Heretaunga College, Clyma Community Gardens, Mangaroa Farms, and the New Zealand Police. Through bushcraft, somatic-based ecotherapy, and rites of passage, they offer an alternative path for neurodivergent and at-risk youth—especially those failed by conventional systems. The program has already led to powerful outcomes: re-engagement in education, reductions in criminal behaviour, and the emergence of confident, emotionally literate young leaders.
Ōtaki Kids Market (Ōtaki Women's Community Club)
The Ōtaki Women’s Community Club (OWCC) has been proudly running the Ōtaki Market since 1996, it’s a vibrant hub supporting local businesses and community spirit. From this, the Ōtaki Kids Market was created in 2023, giving young people a platform to develop entrepreneurial skills, showcase creativity, and gain real-world experience in a fun and supportive environment. Beyond the kids market, the club extend opportunities through workshops, mentoring, school visits, Wellington on a Plate events, and the Kāpiti Food Fair. They do this to nurture confidence, independence, creating a supportive environment where young people of all backgrounds can connect, learn, and thrive.
Paekākāriki Bike Library
For 10 years the Paekākāriki Bike Library volunteers have been looking to make cycling as accessible and affordable to as many Kapiti folk as possible. They get donated bikes, fix them up so they are safe, operate well, and lend them out for $25 to $40 a year. The fee covers ongoing maintenance, and bikes can be upgraded during the year, which is especially good for growing kids. Over the past 10 years, over 1000 bikes have been recycled.
Pinestream Quilters
Pinestream Quilters started nearly 40 years ago to promote patchwork and quilting through friendship and education. They create and donate quilts to various charities and organisations. Over the past 5 years, they have donated over a thousand quilts to organisations including the Special Care Baby Unit at Hutt Hospital, Multiple Birth Association, Koru House, Fergusson Rest Home and Foster Hope. They also raise funds for various charities and are a regular contributor to the Upper Hutt Food Bank.
Plimmerton Boating Club
Plimmerton Boating Club provides world-class boating, sailing and social experiences for our members; as well as being a vibrant hub for the whole Porirua community to enjoy. In 2025, the club’s volunteers celebrated the significant milestone of one hundred continuous years of community service - strongly centred around fishing, sailing & community camaraderie. Plimmerton Boating Club proactively connects with other community organisations and is now planning for the next century of serving members & the wider community.
Projects for Good Kapiti (Golf for Good a combined Lions and Rotary project)
Projects for Good is building a unique 18-hole mini golf course which is funded by its 80+ sponsors on the Kāpiti Coast. The Kāpiti Rotary Club and the Combined Lions Clubs of Kāpiti aim to offer a realistic golfing experience for all ages, with every dollar of profit going back to the community, making it a fun and impactful activity. Playing mini golf will mean having fun while making a difference. This asset is built by the community for the community.
Reload FX
Reload FX are creating a fitness sanctuary for the community to rejuvenate their mind and body, push boundaries and achieve new milestones in health and wellness. Reload FX is a place for the community, where they can come, make it their own space and feel safe. They empower individuals to reach their fitness goals and lead healthier lives. Reload FX believe in the connection between fitness and mental health, fostering positivity along the way. At Reload FX community feels like family supporting one another every step of the journey.
Stockdale Farm
Stockdale Farm is an animal sanctuary supporting rangatahi who are facing challenges. Their farm offers a safe space for young people to build routine, empathy. and resilience through animal-based therapy. They provide gentle guidance, supporting mental health, social wellbeing, and learning. The programmes help rangatahi reintegrate into kura, especially after suspensions or exclusions, offering a chance to heal and a new way of being.
Te Hāhi
Te Hāhi Aotearoa is a faith-based volunteer organisation who provide care and support to people impacted by family harm and hardship. They are a collective of Christian churches within local communities who partner with the Police and other local agencies to provide this support. There are many people who are isolation and ‘fall through the gaps’ feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances. Te Hāhi believe that everybody should feel loved and valued and they aim to bring dignity, compassion and practical help to those who are struggling.
Te Tiriti is Us
Te Tiriti is Us were formed to stand up to divisive rhetoric surrounding the Treaty Principles Bill hey believe constant attacks on Te Tiriti are not just a Māori issue, but an issue for everyone. With a kaupapa of peace and respect, their positive messages appeal to people’s best self, and promote unity, partnership, promise keeping, aroha, sharing and fairness. Encouraging New Zealanders to live the principles of Te Tiriti has been the goal. Through their website, social media, video, posters, commentary, talks, and workshops they have engaged widely. Te Tiriti is Us firmly believe that understanding our history will bring about a unified Aotearoa/New Zealand. He waka eke noa.
Te Whare Hapori o Ngā Puna Waiora Newtown Community Centre
At Newtown Community Centre, everyone is welcome! Pop in and have a cup of tea. Grab some free kai from the Community Fridge, pick up a $2 Quick Kai meal or come get free soup for your Friday lunch. Upstairs at Smart Newtown, you’ll find free computers and internet access, and they regularly host drop-in services like JPs, Community Law, and heaps more. Hire the space for a fundraiser, a class, a gig, or a birthday. Their space is your space.
Tūhura Tech
Tūhura Tech empower rangatahi through accessible technology education, removing financial barriers and bringing programs directly to communities. They have supported over a thousand young people across Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Porirua. From coding to robotics, they create project-based experiences where students discover and explore technology through their own interests. They believe every child deserves the opportunity to build confidence and flourish, regardless of their background.
Upper Hutt Women’s Centre
The Upper Hutt Women’s Centre have been supporting women and their families for over 30 years. All women are welcome, and cost will never be a barrier for anyone needing to access their services. They offer counselling services, a wide variety of courses and workshop, donated items and practical support and they have you covered for coffee, cake and good company too. The centre are proud to organise the Upper Hutt Spring Festival as a major annual fundraiser, generating much needed funds for the centre bringing the wider community together for 25 years.
Voice of Aroha
Voice of Aroha are a community-led organisation empowering youth and amplify the voices of marginalised communities. They host events like World Refugee Day and Youth Culture Night, run podcasts, and deliver youth programmes that build skills and confidence. Voice of Aroha celebrate the rich cultures in our city through storytelling and media, creating spaces where everyone can belong. They believe stories change narratives, build understanding, and strengthen social cohesion — bringing people together for a more inclusive Aotearoa.
Whitireia Park Restoration Group
The Whitireia Park Restoration Group, supported by Wellington Regional Council, works with schools, Ngāti Toa and the wider community to re-cloak Whitireia Park, and to protect its wildlife. They’ve planted 41,000 plants in wetlands, on coasts and in valleys, providing homes for native birds and lizards. The extensive pest control network of 113 traps and 41 bait stations keep these taonga safe from predators. The group have just turned 20 years old and are excited to be starting the next 20 years!