The Western Bay Community Awards bring together all those who are involved in the Western Bay's community and volunteer sector; to celebrate and acknowledge their incredible community work that is helping make the Western Bay of Plenty one of the greatest places to live.
The Western Bay Community Awards are delivered by TECT, Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council, and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
2025 Awards
Nominations for the Western Bay Community Awards 2025 were open from Sunday 1 September - Thursday 31 October 2024 for all seven award categories.
Following the nomination period, finalists were announced via an online showcase event over seven weeks on TECT's Facebook page, which culminated with the awards ceremony at Holy Trinity Tauranga on Thursday 20 March 2025, where the winners were announced.
Congratulations to our 2025 community award winners, and a massive thank you for the incredible mahi you do! See below for more information about our winners and finalists
The 2025 Award Winners are
Community Event Award
Papamoa Light Up the Waterways - Te Ara ō Wairākei Matariki 2024
Heart of the Community Award
Good Neighbour
Best Collaboration Award
Super Support
Sustainable Future Award
Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust
Youth Spirit Award
Hamish Tanner
People's Choice Award
Laurie Sanders
Diversity and Inclusion Award
STEAM-Ed Charitable Trust
Volunteer of the Year Award
Donna Pfefferle
Lifetime Service Award
Lindi Jones
Congratulations to our 2025 finalists!
Congratulations to everyone who submitted a nomination or was nominated by someone for the Western Bay Community Awards. We received so many incredible nominations and our judges were inspired by the work being done in our community by not-for-profits, volunteers and young changemakers.
The 2025 finalists are:
Community Event Award
Climate Action Festival
Papamoa Light Up the Waterways - Te Ara ō Wairārkei Matariki 2024
Te Puna Memorial Hall Harvest Market
Toi Kiri Indigenous Festival
Youth Fest
Heart of the Community Award
Brave Hearts
Good Neighbour
Otumoetai Social Supermarket
MenzShed Omokoroa
The Elms Foundation - Volunteer Team
Sustainable Future Award
Friends of Summerhill
Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust
Outflow Trust
The Wednesday Challenge
Western Bay Wildlife Trust
Youth Spirit Award
Hamish Tanner
Justin Russell
Kennedy Meads
Liam Shanahan
Best Collaboration Award
Climate Action Festival
Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project
Matariki Katikati
Te Whānau a Tauwhao and Otawhiwhi Marae
Super Support
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Rainbow Youth
Senior Chef
Spectrum Connections Charitable Trust
STEAM-Ed Charitable Trust
Unseen Heroes
Volunteer of the Year Award
Donna Pferfferle
Laurie Sanders
Lindi Jones
Melvern Wainwright
Phil Waters
Write to us
The Kollective
DX Box HP40007
Tauranga 3112
Visit us
The Kollective,
145 17th Avenue,
Tauranga, New Zealand
Phone us
07 578 5094
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