The Stratford district is home to go-getters, doers, supporters, helpers, organisers, leaders - you name it, we have people in Stratford that will put their hand up for it - and it’s time to celebrate those people through the annual Citizen and Youth Citizen Awards.
Nominations are now open and close on Friday 29 May 2026.
Nominating local champions for these awards is a long-standing tradition for the Stratford district, going back 30 plus years. They identify people in the community who have shown leadership, inspiration, or dedication to a cause, contributing to the overall wellbeing of the Stratford district.
Mayor Neil Volzke says, “The citizens awards are about honouring and acknowledging the good people who are doing special things to make our community what it is. Collectively they help create the active, inclusive, welcoming community spirit we all strive for.”
“Every year we receive quality nominations for people who are making a great contribution to our community. Most are volunteers who give up their own time to support others in the community through clubs and organisations. I am confident that our citizens awards this year will continue to showcase and award those people who make a difference.”
“I encourage people to nominate those doing great things in our community”.
Nomination forms for both the 2026 Citizen Award and Youth Citizen Award (recognising our 12-24 year old champions) are available online here or printed copies can be picked up at Council's Service Centre, the Stratford Library and Visitor Information Centre and Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre.
Successful recipients will be announced in July 2026, with a celebration ceremony held early August.
Did you know?
- You can view previous recipients on our website here.
- These Awards were introduced in 1991
- 136 citizen awards and 25 youth citizen awards have been presented since they were introduced
- An Outstanding Citizen Award was introduced in 2018. This award recognises outstanding achievement, be it through longevity of service, a past award recipient who has continued to service the community, or someone who has contributed an outstanding service to our community. This award has been presented 7 times to date.
