Bay of Plenty's Incubator will join the country's best and brightest voluntary groups and organisations at the Trustpower National Community Awards this month.
The arts development agency has previously been named Supreme Winner at the regional version of the awards last year. The national event will be held in Queenstown from April 13-15.
At the awards, The Incubator will give an eight-minute presentation sharing its story, its achievements, and why it deserves the title of the Trustpower National Community Awards Supreme Winner. The group will be judged on presentation, along with a 1000-word summary of what it does.
Guest judges this year include chief executive of Volunteering New Zealand, Scott Miller, TVNZ Good Sorts creator and presenter, Hadyn Jones, and previous Supreme Winner, Janice Lee from Koha Kai.
The presentations will take place on Saturday, April 14 at the Queenstown Memorial Centre. The winner, runner-up and recipient of the Whetū Mātaiata Award (and up-and-coming group) will be announced at an awards dinner that evening at the Kawarau Bungy Centre.
Trustpower community and communications advisor Abbie Siely said the group would bring something fresh to the nationwide gathering.
"The Incubator's approach to growing arts and culture in Tauranga, paired with its collaborations with welfare-focused community groups, gives the group a unique story to share. "The Incubator has been working tirelessly to develop an interactive creative culture in the Bay of Plenty, contributing to positive social outcomes through the development of arts infrastructure." The awards winner will take home a custom-made trophy by Glenorchy artist, Dan Kelly, $4000 in prize money, a framed certificate, and a $1000 consultancy voucher from one of New Zealand's leading training providers for the community sector, Exult. The Runner Up will get $2500 in prize money, a $500 Exult voucher and a framed certificate. The Whetū Mātaiata Award recipient receives a framed certificate and a consultancy service package from award sponsor, Exult.
Simone Anderson and Tanya Trass will represent the group, together with Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless and Li-Jong Liao.
Meanwhile, entries are now being taken for the 2018 Trustpower Community Awards.
Anyone can enter a group and all voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations are eligible. Enter online at trustpower.co.nz/communityawards. Entries close May 31.
