National Youth Volunteer Awards
Celebrate rangatahi whose mahi aroha, service or volunteering is making a difference for people, communities and the environment across Aotearoa New Zealand.
About the awards
The National Youth Volunteer Awards recognise young people aged 12 to 24 who are giving their time, energy and care to strengthen communities, support others and look after the natural world.
Delivered by Volunteering New Zealand, with support from the Ministry of Youth Development and the Department of Internal Affairs, the awards celebrate the depth, diversity and collective impact of youth volunteering across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Why youth volunteering matters
Young volunteers are already making a significant contribution in communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. These awards recognise that contribution and help inspire more young people to take part, lead, support others and care for people, places and the planet.
The awards are grounded in mahi aroha — work done with love, generosity and care. They celebrate both visible leadership and the quieter contributions that help whānau, groups, organisations and communities to flourish.
Award categories
There are four National Youth Volunteer Award categories.
Youth Group of the Year — celebrates a school committee, youth council, youth-led collective, team or club working together for a shared cause and making a positive difference for people, places or the planet.
Kaitiakitanga Award — recognises young people or youth-led groups taking practical action for the environment, including climate action, conservation, restoration, biodiversity protection, clean-ups and waste reduction.
Future Leader / Tuakana Award — recognises young people who support, guide and encourage others as role models, coaches, tuakana, peer mentors or supporters.
Unsung Hero Award — recognises young volunteers whose quiet, consistent and generous behind-the-scenes service helps others, groups, organisations, whānau or communities flourish.
Who can be nominated?
Nominations are open for individuals and groups where the young person, or young people in the group, are aged between 12 and 24. The volunteering activity must be voluntary and unpaid, or primarily volunteer-driven, and must have taken place in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1 July 2025 and 1 August 2026.
Nominees may be nominated by someone else or may self-nominate, except for the Unsung Hero Award, which must be nominated by another person. If a nominee is under 18, a parent or caregiver endorsement is required. Nominees can be entered in one award category only.
How to nominate
Complete the online nomination form and choose the award category that best fits the nominee’s contribution. The form will ask for general eligibility information, contact details, consent, and a short description of the volunteering activity.
You will then answer a small number of category-specific questions so judges can understand the nominee’s leadership, collaboration, impact, care, mentoring, environmental action or behind-the-scenes contribution.
Before you start, it may help to have the nominee’s contact details, age or age range, a short description of the volunteering activity, the dates it took place, referee or supporting person details, and any supporting evidence such as quotes, testimonials, photos or examples of impact.
Key dates
Nominations open on 6 July 2026 and close on 30 August 2026. Winners will be recognised in November 2026.
Celebrate a young volunteer
If you know a young person or youth-led group whose volunteering deserves to be recognised, nominate them for a National Youth Volunteer Award and help celebrate the future of volunteering in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nominate now: Help shine a light on rangatahi whose volunteering is strengthening communities, supporting others and caring for the environment. Complete the nomination form by 30 August 2026.