Record award nominations
Record numbers of nominations have been received for the prestigious 2018 Katikati and Waihi Beach Community Awards, which honour our talented sportspeople, volunteers and new this year, the arts, along with business excellence.
Hosted by Katch Katikati and Waihi Beach Events and Promotions, this is the third joint awards event, with the winners announced at a glitzy Vintage Hollywood Soiree on November 3.
Katch Katikati’s events co-ordinator Nicky Austin said there’s been a huge response for nominations for both the community and business excellence award categories.
“I’m so pleased everyone is getting behind it,” she said.
Nominations for the community excellence award categories closed last week. Now people need to vote in the People’s Choice section of the awards which includes Sports — coach, individual and team of the year; Volunteer — individual and group; arts — individual; Business — best retail, hospitality and service. See the list of nominees and a voting form on page 28. People can also visit the website www.katikatiwaihibeachcommunity awards.co.nz or call into the Visitor Information Centres in Katikati and Waihi Beach.
Nicky said this is the time that matters most, “getting people in behind these great people and organisations”.
When Nicky has informed those who had been nominated, “they were so stoked”.
“Don’t underestimate the feeling the effect of being nominated has — it really makes them feel good.”
Business excellence award nominations close on September 30 for award categories — Innovation, Environment and Community and Tourism. These categories will be judged by Peter McCormick, Brett Soutar and Kath Low.
With just two weeks to go Nicky encourages any further business excellence award nominations — sooner rather than last minute.
“Each business nominated in the category has to fill out an entry form. So the closer it is that the nomination comes in, the less time that business has to fill out their form.”
Nicky said she was pleased to see how many people have interacted with the website and nominated people and organisations online.
Planning is under way for the November 3 awards night with a call for volunteers keen to help decorate the Katikati Memorial Hall. Please give Nicky a call on 549-5250 if you can help.