Tauranga to host Trustpower community awards

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless with Simone Anderson and Tanya Trass from The Incubator Creative Hub at this year's Trustpower National Community Awards in Queenstown. Photo/Supplied

Tauranga will host next year's Trustpower National Community Awards.

About 150 people were expected to gather in Tauranga in March 2019 for the three-day event which recognises voluntary groups and organisations.

The Trustpower Community Awards programme operates in 26 regions around New Zealand in conjunction with local city and district councils.

Supreme Winners from each regional community awards attend the national awards with their local mayors and invited guests.

Trustpower community and communications advisor Abbie Siely said in addition to recognising and promoting the work of volunteers, the national awards offered an opportunity to showcase the host region.

"We are so excited to be hosting this prestigious event in Tauranga," Siely said.

"It is the home of Trustpower's head office and we are thrilled to share the venues, facilities, activities, scenery and hospitality that make our hometown so spectacular with this group of inspirational and deserving visitors from all corners of New Zealand."

Tauranga City Mayor Greg Brownless said he was looking forward to hosting the national awards in Tauranga.

"Community groups and their volunteers are crucial to our Tauranga lifestyle. We are excited about the national awards coming to the Bay of Plenty and showcasing our district and all we have to offer," he said.

Brownless encouraged the community to nominate deserving groups.

"We look forward to having the best voluntary organisations in New Zealand uniting here in Tauranga and sharing their stories with us."

The hosting region for the Trustpower National Community Awards alternates each year between the North and South Islands. This year's Trustpower National Community Awards took place last month in Queenstown.

For more information on the Trustpower Community Awards, visit www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards.