Celebrating sporting sector excellence in commercial partnerships, communication, community impact, events and innovation.

The finalists for the NZ Sport and Recreation Awards have been selected. Congratulations from Sport New Zealand.

The winners will be announced at the NZ Sport and Recreation Awards dinner on 13 April 2015. The judging panel were Peter Dale (Chair), Sir John Wells, Jennifer Gill, Selwyn Maister, and Peter Miskimmin.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Commercial Partnership

• NZ Rugby League and DB Breweries
• Taranaki Secondary Schools Sports' Association and Shell Todd Partnership
• Yachting NZ and Aon NZ

Communication Excellence

• Harbour Sport 2014 Events Communications Programme
• Sport Bay of Plenty 2014 Communications Programme
• Waka Ama Social Media Programme

Community Impact

• Northland Swim for Life Programme - Sport Northland
• Pathway 16-20 - Sport Bay of Plenty
• Softball strikes back in Tairawhiti - Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti

Event Excellence

• 2014 Panasonic Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival - NZ Water Polo Association
• AMI Round the Bays Fun Run/Walk - Sport Wellington
• NZCT AIMS GAMES International Sporting Championships - AIMS GAMES TRUST

Innovation Excellence

• Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines - ATEED
• Fast5 Netball World Series - Netball NZ
• Gender Equal Grading System - Squash NZ

C.K. Doig Leadership Award

No finalists named - winner to be revealed at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.

The judging panel were impressed with the variety, quality, and impact of the many projects and programmes taking place across the country. Thank you to all entrants for participating in this year's awards and for your continuing service to New Zealand sport and recreation.