Nominations now open for Sports Person of the Year and Special Achievement Award

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Sports Council is calling for nominations for the 2025/2026 Sports Person of the Year and the Special Achievement Awards

Who rose to the top this year? Who inspired, elevated, and achieved greatness?

Nominations are now open for the Sports Person of the Year, our highest individual honour, awarded to an athlete who has shown extraordinary skill, dedication and impact over the past year.

We’re also accepting nominations for the Special Achievement Award, designed to recognise individuals or teams who have accomplished something truly exceptional, a breakthrough performance or a lasting contribution to sport.

You can nominate yourself or someone else and all Fire and Emergency personnel are eligible to apply for both awards.

Deadline for nominations: 1 October 2025

Submit your entries via our nomination form: Nomination for a sports award

About the trophies

The Sports Person of the Year receives the honour of holding the Te Ringa Rino, meaning The Iron Hand a prestigious travelling trophy passed from one winner to the next each year. Te Ringa Rino is crafted from precious pounamu (greenstone) set on native wood. Te Ringa Rino symbolises strength, resilience and leadership.

The Special Achievement Award is accompanied by a commemorative trophy presented to the recipient or team as a lasting recognition of their exceptional contribution (Photo on the way).

Both trophies travel across the country, connecting each new winner to a proud legacy of sporting excellence.

While the Te Ringa Rino and the Special Achievement Award travels to the next recipient annually, each winner also receives a beautifully hand-crafted pounamu of their own to keep as a permanent symbol of their achievement.

Don’t miss the opportunity to honour greatness