The New Zealand Coastal Society prides itself in giving out multiple awards each calendar year. These awards are designed to recognise both professional and student achievement and merit in the study or advocacy of issues related to the betterment of New Zealand's coastal resources. The various awards that the NZCS offers are detailed below. All our awards are available to NZCS members only - to become a member simply fill out the membership form.
Nominations close 5pm 1st September Annually
The Terry Healy Coastal Project Award acknowledges the achievement of a project which has made a significant contribution to New Zealand's coastal and marine environment. The award is intended to commend a coastal project for its overall commitment to excellence working within the coastal zone and promoting the New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS) vision and values:
Sustainable management of New Zealand's coastal and marine environment underpinned by sound science, engineering and policy practice, comprehensive monitoring, involved communities and effective national networks.
The award intends to raise community awareness of the importance of the coastal zone and to encourage coastal planners, engineers and management practitioners to strive for excellence.
Terry Healy Project Award Nomination Form [PDF] [DOC]
Applications close 5pm 1st September Annually
The purpose of the New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS) Professional Development Award (PDA) is to:
Successful applicants will receive up to NZ$5,000 towards the expenses of pursuing a professional development opportunity that aligns with and advances the mission and vision of NZCS. Successful applicants will also need to attend the NZCS annual conference to deliver a presentation on the learnings of their PDA activity.
Professional Development Award information and application [PDF] [DOC]
Applications close 5pm 1st May Annually
Current and predicted pressures pose significant challenges for managers and planners seeking to provide sustainable futures for coastal environments and communities. The New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS) was created as a means to promote and advance knowledge and understanding of the coastal zone. This includes fostering coastal research and capacity building.
The society offers two scholarships annually to students conducting research that has the potential to contribute towards the aims of the society: NZ$5000 to support PHD research, and NZ$2500 to support Masters research. Applications close 5pm on 1st May annually and announcement of the successful recipient within a month of the closing date. Free attendance to the annual NZCS conference and dinner will also be awarded (additional value $700).
Student Research Scholarship application form [PDF] [DOC]
Applications close 5pm, 1st May Annually
Current and predicted pressures pose significant challenges for managers and planners seeking to provide sustainable futures for coastal environments and communities. The New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS) was created as a means to promote and advance knowledge and understanding of the coastal zone. This includes fostering coastal research and capacity building that has the potential to contribute towards the aims of the Society.
The Society offering one PhD or Masters Research scholarship which is open to anyone of Maori or Pacific Island descent OR with a research topic with Maori and Pacific Island focus within the coastal environment. An example could be the application of traditional Maori or Pacific Island coastal management techniques to modern day coastal planning. The purpose of this scholarship is also to promote diversity amongst coastal practitioners.
The value of the award is NZ $5,000 to support PhD research or NZ $2,500 to support Masters research. Free attendance to the annual NZCS conference and dinner will also be awarded (additional value $700).
Maori & Pacific Island Research Scholarship application form [PDF] [DOC]
Nominations close 5pm 15th November Annually
The NZCS provide an award to encourage students at undergraduate level studying within a New Zealand Tertiary Institution. If you are a student and you think your paper meets the guidelines, please encourage your lecturer to take up this opportunity. Each University offering coastal-themed papers at the 3rd year level may apply to the society to award one such excellence award. Teaching staff of the relevant papers must collectively nominate one student within each university to recommend to the society for the award by 15th November every year. The student must demonstrate academic excellence as well as a passion for the coast and be studying coastal science, planning, engineering, ecology or management. The Excellence Award is valued at $300. Lecturers or supervisors only need to email the NZCS with their identified nominee to be eligible for this award. Email your nomination to nzcoastalsociety@gmail.com.
The New Zealand Coastal Society provides support to students to attend the Australasian Coasts and Ports Conference. This is the premier Australasian conference covering Coastal Processes, Port and Maritime Engineering, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Port and Coastal Planning, Policy and Management and is held biennially in odd-numbered years (i.e. 2017, 2019, 2021). The conference is usually held in Australia but comes to New Zealand every third time. The next Coasts and Ports Conference will be held on the Sunshine Coast, Australia - 15-18 August 2023.
The award will cover conference registration, attendance at the conference dinner and $1000 towards travel and accommodation. The award winner will be judged on the quality of the accepted abstract and alignment with the goals of the New Zealand Coastal Society. To be eligible the abstract must be accepted for presentation at the Australasian Coasts and Ports conference. The lead author must be an undergraduate, masters or PhD student at a recognised Tertiary institution based in New Zealand and a student member of the New Zealand Coastal Society at the time of submission.
The New Zealand Coastal Society Sustainability Award was first introduced by eCoast in 2017. The award celebrates an organisation/individual in demonstrating an outstanding contribution to promoting awareness, fostering aspiration, inspiring leadership and shows dedicated effort towards a sustainable future. Conference contributions are judged against three criteria that are central to our coastal life:
Previous recipients have shown us that not only can environmental impacts be balanced against growth and development, but through diligent and responsible process the quality of our environment can be maintained and improved.
Conference presentations will be co-judged between NZCS and eCoast representatives. Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the Conference Dinner.
The Ocean Champion Challenge is about celebrating the work of many passionate ocean advocates and sharing their stories to inspire others. Nominate someone else or apply here. To apply we ask that you share your Ocean Champion story with us in a short video (2-4 minutes in length). Competition closes 31st March Annually.
The grand prize for the overall Ocean Champion (age 17+) is $500 from the New Zealand Coastal Society which has been sponsoring this award and supporting the work of Ocean Champions since 2018.
