Civic Honours Awards
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 is 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. |
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(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 is eligible for nomination under this category. |
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(c) |
That any Trust, Organisation, Association, Society or Club has carried out meritorious voluntary service within the Horowhenua District is eligible for nomination for a 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
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| (iii) |
The Special Judging 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 Special Judging 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. |
Special Judging Panel
The Special Judging Panel as previously referred to comprises the following appointments:
- His Worship the Mayor, Brendan Duffy JP as Chairperson
- Councillor David Allan
- Councillor Robbie Shaw
- Councillor Tony Rush
The decisions of the Special Judging Panel will be final and no correspondence will be entered into on any Awards made.
The Special Judging Panel can award a maximum of four (4) Civic Awards in any one year within the present three nomination divisions (ie Individual, Youth and Trust, Organisation etc.).
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.
Closing Date for Nominations
Nominations generally close end of October for the calendar year with the Civic Honours Ceremony held in late November/early December.
Further Information
Any further information can be obtained from the Council's Strategic & Corporate Services Manager or Customer Service Centre, Levin.