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Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui International Student Excellence Awards

NMIT, Nelson

Celebrating international student excellence

The Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui International Student Excellence Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of international students studying across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

Nominations are open for 2026

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Award categories

Recognising students who have shown initiative, inspired others, and demonstrated exceptional leadership within their school, institution, or community.

Recognising contributions that have made a positive difference through service, volunteering, or building connections across cultures and communities.

Recognising exceptional academic performance and dedication to learning.

Recognising innovation, creativity, and achievement in visual arts, design, music, performance, or other creative fields.

Recognising excellence in sporting performance, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Recognising a New Zealand student who has actively supported and championed international students or intercultural initiatives within their community.

Recognising a New Zealand person, family or organisation who has actively supported and championed international students or intercultural initiatives within their community.

In addition to the awards above, the Mayor's International Student of the Year Award recognises an exceptional international student who has demonstrated outstanding achievements, leadership qualities, and a significant positive impact on Te Tauihu, and who is an inspiring role model for fellow students and
residents alike. All nominees of the awards above will automatically be nominated for the Mayor's International Student of the Year Award. This is a single award irrespective of the category students belong to and students cannot be nominated for this award directly.

Eligibility

To be eligible:

  • The nominated student must have studied at a Nelson Tasman Marlborough educational institution in 2026 (tertiary, English language, secondary, intermediate, primary, or PTE).
  • The Education providers must be approved signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).
  • The International Community Champion can be chosen from anyone within Te Tauihu.


Application process

Nominations can be made by the student themselves OR by faculty members, peers, community members, international directors or other stakeholders who can attest to the student’s eligibility for the award criteria. Nominators must complete and submit the online nomination form, seeking consent from the student(s) they are nominating to include student’s personal information, a statement of their achievements, and any supporting documents.

Nominations are open for 2026

Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui education providers are delighted to invite nominations for the International Student Excellence Awards, celebrating the achievements and contributions of international students across the Nelson Tasman Marlborough region.

Key dates

Nominations open: February 2026

Nominations close: Friday 25 September 2026 at 5pm

Winners notified: 15 October 2026

Awards ceremony: Friday 30 October 2026 at 3pm – Nelson City Council Chambers

Before submitting your nomination

Please make sure you have the following ready to upload:

  • A written statement (up to 500 words) outlining the reason for nomination and details of achievements, impact, or contribution.
  • Supporting evidence, such as photos, media coverage, social media posts, testimonials, letters of support, or other relevant materials (maximum three items, single file size limit of 100MB).
  • At least one referee who can attest to the nomination (full name, email address and phone number).
  • A high quality portrait style image of the nominee (vertical format).

How to apply

Nominations close: Friday 25 September 2026, 5pm

  1. Complete the Self Nomination Form.
  2. Complete the Nominate Someone Else Form.

If you are unable to access either form, please email your nomination to internationaldevelopment@nmit.ac.nz.

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