Team of the Year
2026 Community Winner - Paekākāriki U23 Women's Surf Boat Crew – Surf Lifesaving & Canoeing
2025 Performance Winner - Wellington Phoenix Women – Football
Paekākāriki U23 Women's Surf Boat Crew – Surf Lifesaving & Canoeing
Paekākāriki U23 Women’s Surf Boat Crew earned Trans-Tasman U23 women’s surf boat selection after a standout season of national-level performances. Their results helped Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards secure two national titles and eight national medals, while contributing to strong Oceans Youth Championship results and a record-breaking club year marked by increased membership and junior growth. The crew has raced with distinction in surf lifesaving’s most demanding team disciplines, in national championships and Australian competitions, showing both ambition and the ability to compete credibly on the world stage.
Wellington Phoenix Women – Football
The Wellington Phoenix women captured the imagination of the sporting public during their record-breaking 2025-26 A-League season, qualifying for the finals and attracting their biggest average crowds to Porirua Park and Hnry Stadium. The side posted 10 wins, 38 goals, and only conceded 17. This saw them post the league’s best defence, a four-match winning streak and a historic 7-0 victory over Sydney FC. The Phoenix women made club history during the regular season and, in doing so, they inspired thousands more young footballers on television, especially because, for the first time in the team's five-year history, they challenged for the minor premiership.