In 1995 the Horowhenua District Council introduced its Civic Honours Award system to enable voluntary service within the District to be duly recognised. Over the past 12 years a number of district residents have received Civic Honours Awards over a wide range of voluntary community service categories, together with one Trust and one Club.
A full review of the Civic Honours Award system was carried out in 2006 with changes made to reflect the changing needs of recognising the range of community service undertaking within our District, either by an Individual or Group, Trust, Organisation, Association, Society or Club.
Guidelines & Criteria
The following guidelines and conditions apply to any nomination lodged in respect of the Horowhenua District Council’s Civic Honours Award.
(i) (a) That any person who has carried out meritorious voluntary service within the Horowhenua District be eligible for nomination for a Civic Honours Award by any two citizens of the District, or by two executive officers of any bona fide organisation, association, club or society that is based in the Horowhenua District.
(b) That any person under the age of 24 who has carried out meritorious voluntary community support to conservation, sport and recreation or youth affairs be eligible.
(c) That any Trust, Organisation, Association, Society or Club has carried out meritorious voluntary service within the Horowhenua District be eligible for nomination for Civic Honour Award being nominated by any two citizens of the District. This covers any bona fide Trust, Organisation, Society, Association or Club that is based within the District.
(ii) The categories for qualifications for Civic Honours Award are as follows:
- Community Affairs
- Social Affairs/Services
- Cultural Affairs
- Youth Affairs
- Recreation and Sport
- Educational Services
- Religious Affairs
- Conservation
(iii) The Selection Panel will also consider other suitable service not covered and worthy of recognition.
(iv) Information given concerning any nominee should include sufficient detail in respect of the merits of the nominee to so assist the Selection Panel appointed in its determination. It should be emphasised that details sought should not be confined to any offices held etc but to clearly show the extent of such involvement in their particular field of community service. It is a further requirement that nominations be supported by a minimum of two (2) signed letters of support.
(v) Every nomination must be signed by either two citizens of the district or if a nomination is made by a bona fide organisation, association, club or society then two executive officers of the nominating organisation etc are required to sign the said application and record their position alongside their signatures.
(vi) That any person having received a Royal Honour or Title or having received a nationally recognised award in the same field is ineligible for receiving a Civic Honours Award unless exceptional circumstances exist that warrant further consideration.
(vii) The Selection Panel may also in exceptional circumstances make a Civic Honours Award to any person who resides outside of the Horowhenua District Council if that person has provided voluntary community service wholly or predominantly within the Horowhenua District.
(viii) Any nomination that is unsuccessful in any one year may again be resubmitted for further consideration in any subsequent year.
The Selection Panel as previously referred to comprises the following appointments
- His Worship the Mayor, Brendan Duffy JP as Chairperson
- Councillor Dave Colling
- Councillor David Allan
- Councillor Robbie Shaw
- Councillor Tony Rush
- Councillor Peter Keenan
The decisions of the Selection Panel will be final and no correspondence will be entered into on any Awards made.
A maximum of two (2) Civic Awards can be made in any one year, covering individuals, any person under 24 years of age or Trust, Group, Organisation, Association, Society or Club.
The Council reserves the right to not make any Awards if in the Judging Panel's view nominations received do not meet the desired standard of voluntary community service.
The Council may also decide to record such voluntary community service by way of a Certificate of Recognition where it is determined that nominations do not meet the standard as attained by previous Honours recipients.
No cap has been placed on the number of certificates of Recognition being made in any one year, and discretion is in the hands of the Special Judging Panel as to the number, if any, to be awarded.
The Council also reserves the right to make any other enquiries into nominees' community service to verify any statement made in the application.
Nominations generally close end of October for the calendar year with the Civic Honours Ceremony held in late November/early December.
Application Forms
Application Form A: Individual - Open Category/Youth
Application Form B: Trust, Organistion, Association, Society or Club
Recipients
Civic Honours Awards and Certificates of Recognition for 2007