The awards will be run in conjunction with the New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Conference at Lincoln University, which is due to take place between November 29 and December 1.

Four award categories have been announced - Campus Impact Award, Innovation Award, Community Partnership Award and Service to Recreation Award.

The Campus Impact Award will recognise a recreation initiative which has had a positive impact on the well-being of the tertiary student community, while the Innovation Award will honour a new programme or initiative which is specifically targeted at engaging non-participating students in recreation.

The Community Partnership Award is for a recreation initiative that meets an identified need within the tertiary institution and/or community, which creatively connects campus and community and engages students, staff and/or faculty.

For the Service to Recreation Award, the prize will recognise the contribution made by an individual to tertiary recreation, irrespective of duration, that will have significantly and positively enhanced tertiary recreation services and/or the student recreation experience.

"The idea for the UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards came from our members," said UTSNZ executive director Sarah Anderson. 

"It's time to celebrate and recognise their hard work and achievements as they inspire and enable New Zealand tertiary student well-being through recreation activities, some of whom are doing incredible things."

Institutions will be able to enter the awards using an online entry form which will open on October 1.

Each award entry will be judged by a panel of three judges, selected from within the sport and education network.