A new award is being created for those who have made an “outstanding contribution” to Nelson.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith proposed the initiative during Thursday’s Nelson City Council meeting, saying that the city currently does not sufficiently recognise residents’ efforts.
“I am continuously amazed by the level of dedication and commitment that a large number of people in this community give in terms of service to our city,” he says.
The Nelsonian Civic Award is for those who have demonstrated exceptional length of service, leadership, or impact in the city and to its residents through their voluntary or philanthropic contributions to local community well-being, culture, heritage, sport, education, the environment, arts, industry, or commerce.
The proposal, which was developed with input from councillors, was unanimously adopted by the council.
“This community of ours could not function… without our volunteers,” councillor Mel Courtney says.
“I think it will build a lot of goodwill and will even build the number of volunteers in the wider community, knowing that their work is going to be acknowledged at some point.”
The award can be presented to someone of any age, up to 12 months posthumously, and to those who are not residents, provided they have contributed to the city, though the award was not intended for organisations or groups of people.
While only the council’s elected members will be able to nominate people for the award, residents can suggest potential nominees to them.
Elected members will be limited to one nomination during their three-year term, and were expected to make a nomination, meaning that 13 awards are likely to be bestowed before the next local election in 2028.
Nelson has previously had different forms of civic awards but, due to a combination of “excessively bureaucratic” processes and competing council priorities, they were effectively suspended.
By aiming for a semi-regular schedule of nominations every few months, along with keeping the process inside the Mayor and Councillors Office, it was hoped that the new Nelsonian Civic Award would be more enduring.
