Prison Care Ministries (PCM), based in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, has been an unwavering pillar of support for tāne transitioning from incarceration to society since 2004. Operating seven houses across the region, PCM provides accommodation, reintegration services, and a sense of belonging to some of Aotearoa’s most marginalised individuals. Their approach, which blends compassion, structure, wraparound services, and spiritual grounding, has positively influenced the lives of over 800 men, proving that genuine relationships and steadfast support can inspire transformation.

Despite setbacks and challenges, including housing shortages and changes in disability payments, PCM’s commitment to their kaupapa remains undeterred. Their success rate is testament to their impact, with 82-84% of their residents avoiding reoffending or returning to prison. Through their work, PCM is not just housing people, but healing them, restoring their mana, and helping to build a future where they can contribute positively to society.

Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi (CAC), founded in 2019, stands as a beacon of youth-powered, climate-focused education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Led by former Christchurch mayor Vicki Buck, this unique community hub transforms climate anxiety into action, empowering tamariki and rangatahi from over 60 kura with hands-on, real-world solutions. Situated on 8.5 hectares of repurposed land, CAC is a living model of ecological learning and creative collaboration, deeply rooted in the land, culture, and climate needs of Aotearoa.

Beyond teaching the science of climate change, CAC embodies a holistic, solution-focused approach. From gardening and composting to water conservation and native planting, students actively shape a sustainable future. CAC’s broad offerings, supported by a diverse team of experts, position tamariki as kaitiaki, stewards of the whenua and agents of change. By fostering youth-led climate action, CAC reshapes the narrative, proving that with imagination, commitment, and collaboration, we can build the future our tamariki deserve.

Coastguard New Zealand, a nationwide network of over 2,000 volunteers, represents a community that epitomises the spirit of Aotearoa. With over 60 units operating in 2024 alone, they responded to more than 3,000 incidents and ensured over 8,000 people returned home safely. Regardless of treacherous conditions, these selfless volunteers uphold a culture of service, resilience, and unity. Their presence in both coastal and inland communities extends beyond rescue, offering marine education, youth engagement, and disaster response.

Coastguard NZ is not just a lifesaving organisation—its proactive and inclusive approach shapes our nation’s relationship with water safety. They’ve taken bold strides to partner with Māori communities, co-designing culturally responsive safety programmes, and maintaining strong grassroots relationships. Their Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Campaign and free boating education courses have transformed water safety awareness across generations, making a lasting impact.

Since its inception in 2012, parkrun New Zealand has been reshaping Aotearoa’s landscape of community health and social connectivity. With a network of more than 60 free, volunteer-led 5km events held every Saturday morning across the motu, parkrun has cultivated a space where all ages and abilities are celebrated. This innovative effort, born in the UK, eliminates barriers like cost and competitiveness, and instead fosters an environment of encouragement, purpose, and belonging.

The impact of parkrun extends well beyond its finish line. By tirelessly championing for inclusion, wellbeing, and community resilience, parkrun has transformed lives and bolstered mental health, leading to stronger, healthier communities. Through strategic partnerships, such as with the Tauawhitia Trust, parkrun is expanding into underserved areas, aiming to reach over 100 events and making its benefits accessible to even more New Zealanders.

Rei Kōtuku, a remarkable charitable trust, has been a lifeline for whānau across Aotearoa, providing holistic, specialist paediatric palliative care and bereavement support. In the past year, they have grown their team and extended services to more rural communities, while investing in grief literacy and education tools. Their dedication to compassionate, culturally grounded, and community-led support has reshaped the landscape of paediatric palliative care, particularly in underserved areas of the lower North Island.

From offering end-of-life care to bereavement support, Rei Kōtuku’s unique approach integrates cultural, emotional, and spiritual elements to reflect the real needs of families. Despite financial uncertainty, their resilience is evident as they continue to expand their services, ensuring that no family walks alone through their darkest hours. Their work, driven by compassion and driven by aroha, has a profound and lasting impact on the communities they serve.

The Safeguarding Children Initiative, a nationwide movement dedicated to protecting tamariki and rangatahi from harm, has trained over 80,000 advocates, 16,000 of which were trained this year alone. This revolutionary kaupapa has redefined the concept of community, uniting individuals and organisations across Aotearoa not by location, but by a shared commitment to child safety. Through innovative training, policy advocacy, and initiatives like Child Safeguarding Week, they’ve reshaped Aotearoa’s response to child abuse and neglect, empowering everyday champions to make our country safer for every child.

The Safeguarding Children Initiative’s impact extends beyond its core team, reaching into homes, workplaces, sports fields, classrooms, and marae across the motu. This powerful, boundary-less community model, supported by digital innovation and targeted resources, exemplifies how collective action and shared responsibility can create enduring, nationwide change for the safety and wellbeing of every child in Aotearoa.

Destination Kāwaroa is a monumental initiative of the Taranaki Foundation in partnership with mana whenua of Ngāmotu, Ngāti Te Whiti, and New Plymouth District Council. A legacy asset for future generations, it was brought to life through the generous support of funders and partners, successfully achieving a project budget of $7.4M. Proposed by Bryce Barnett in 2021, Kāwaroa Park was transformed into a destination playspace, enhancing community engagement and inclusivity.

Today, Destination Kāwaroa stands as an intergenerational asset that benefits the region by catering to Taranaki residents and attracting visitors. Opened in 2024, the 22,000m² playground area now rivals any in the country. More than a recreational space, it represents the power of community collaboration, a testament to Team Taranaki’s resilience, creativity, and commitment to creating a space that will be enjoyed for generations.

For nearly seven decades, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, a pioneering social enterprise, has been transforming lives and impacting communities in Aotearoa. Founded in 1956, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay redefined care for people with intellectual disabilities, departing from institutional confinement to foster inclusive community living. Their innovative approach encompasses a lifelong journey of support, ranging from special needs education for children to adult employment programmes and nurturing elder care homes.

Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay is a vibrant nexus of creativity and enterprise, where social responsibility and environmental sustainability coalesce. The organisation’s biodynamic farms, artisan cheesemaking, and craft workshops provide meaningful employment for nearly 200 individuals, while contributing to Hawke’s Bay’s economy and ecology. With a dedicated team of over 600 staff and volunteers, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay continues to demonstrate exceptional resilience and commitment, ensuring high-quality care, education, and opportunities for all.

Youth Hub Christchurch, the first of its kind in Aotearoa, is an innovative community setting that fosters youth mental health and wellbeing by offering secure housing and comprehensive services. Over the past year, the Hub has significantly evolved, opening its first stage that provides housing for 22 at-risk youth and clinic spaces for service providers. It has also begun construction on a multi-purpose centre, demonstrating a commitment to reimagining youth development in Aotearoa.

More than a mere service provider, the Hub stands as a vibrant community, uniting over a dozen organisations from health, education, and advocacy sectors. With a vision that reaches beyond filling service gaps, the Hub has managed to transform lives, strengthen communities, and set new benchmarks for youth support in Aotearoa.

Since 2007, Red Frogs NZ has been a beacon of hope in the grey areas of alcohol harm prevention, specifically amongst youth aged 13-30. In 2024, they marked their most significant year yet, expanding to ten locations and garnering the support of over 350 volunteers, who collectively spent 10,531 hours safeguarding an impressive 744,000+ individuals. Red Frogs NZ’s presence is felt where it’s needed most, from Castle Street in Dunedin during student celebrations to New Year’s festivities in Queenstown and Wanaka.

Deeply committed to their kaupapa, Red Frogs NZ’s dedicated volunteers offer a safe haven amidst chaos, providing essential care and comfort for vulnerable young Kiwis. Their work has extended beyond immediate harm prevention, with the development of educational programmes that equip rangatahi with the knowledge to keep themselves and their peers safe. Despite operational challenges, Red Frogs NZ has exemplified resilience, rebuilding and expanding their reach, driven by sheer determination and a shared passion for their mission.

Established in 2006, Mixit is a grassroots initiative that utilises creative expression to empower and connect former refugee, migrant, and local youth in Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2022, Mixit launched the Mixit Aotearoa Outreach project, sharing their transformative model with organisations nationwide, particularly in regional refugee resettlement areas. This initiative, co-facilitated by Mixit Alumni, has sparked new partnerships, inspired collaboration, and provided professional development opportunities for national youth workers by delivering workshops in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Ashburton.

The Mixit model centres around youth leadership and creative courage, nurturing participants to become mentors and leaders themselves. As a testament to their kaupapa, several participants have progressed to become Programme Leaders, Outreach Leaders, and even members of the Mixit Board. The Neville Kay Mixit Memorial Scholarship, established in 2024, further reinforces Mixit’s commitment to supporting young people as they transition into training and career pathways.

In the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, the volunteers of the Compassion Soup Kitchen have been a steadfast pillar of kindness and respect for over 125 years. This diverse group of individuals, united in their commitment to manaakitanga, serve two hot nutritious meals daily, six days a week, to those facing food insecurity and social isolation. They’ve transformed this historic initiative into a lifeline for Wellington’s most vulnerable, serving an estimated 2,854,331 meals as of 30 June 2025.

Beyond the kitchen, their impact resonates across the community. From facilitating creative groups to maintaining the urban garden, the volunteers create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Through their actions, they’ve extended the Compassion Soup Kitchen’s reach, making it a place of belonging and companionship for all who walk through its doors.

In the face of a challenging year for the Social Service sector, Barnardos Aotearoa, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest children’s charities, has shown unyielding dedication to supporting tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau across the motu. Despite government funding uncertainties and rising pressures, they have worked tirelessly, absorbing the waitlists of other services that could no longer operate, ensuring no whānau is left without support. Their innovative approach combines government funding with philanthropic partnerships, achieving powerful outcomes, which include securing funding for the critical ‘What’s Up’ helpline and bridging the gap in early learning affordability.

Barnardos’ impact is far-reaching, touching over 27,000 lives in the last year alone and providing free early learning access. Their steadfast advocacy for better support systems is backed by evidence, as they strive to break intergenerational cycles and empower tamariki and their caregivers to take control of their futures. Despite immense pressures, Barnardos continues to lend a voice to those unheard, standing as a beacon of hope and resilience in our communities.

Born in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Moana Vā – Navigators of Pacific Pride emerged as a beacon of resilience and empowerment, uplifting the Pacific Rainbow+ communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Their innovative approach extends beyond individuals, fostering intergenerational spaces of storytelling and connection, thereby reducing stigma and fostering acceptance within Pacific families struggling to reconcile cultural, spiritual, and gender/sexual diversity. Through initiatives such as Moana Mālie and Moana Vibes, they provide holistic wellbeing support while ensuring Pacific Rainbow+ voices are included in national health discussions.

Moana Vā’s impact is both deeply personal and widely felt. Their digital storytelling campaigns are educating wider communities and creating visibility where it’s most needed. They advocate for policies that reflect the realities of Pacific Rainbow+ people and mentor young leaders, ensuring that intergenerational knowledge is honoured. Their work is a testament to their motto “All flavours welcome”, embodying warmth and radical inclusivity.