Nominations for this year's TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards, the district's largest celebration of community groups, close at 5pm on Friday.
Run in conjunction with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the awards recognise and reward voluntary groups and organisations which have made outstanding contributions to their community.
This year's supreme winner will attend the next TrustPower National Community Awards in the Tauranga and Western Bay Districts in March next year.
Typically, the awards attract about 20 nominations for the Queenstown Lakes area.
TrustPower community relations representative Melanie Tavendale believed many groups were not recognised because they were not nominated.
"Volunteers are often not recognised for the work they do in their community.
"The work undertaken is invaluable, and it is up to every resident to show their appreciation to those working to improve this community.
"Volunteers in the Queenstown Lakes District dedicate thousands of hours to this community; you need to give just five minutes of your time to ensure they get the recognition they deserve," Mrs Tavendale said.
The awards cover five categories: Heritage and Environment; Health and Wellbeing; Arts and Culture; Sport and Leisure; and Educational and Child/Youth Development.
The category winners receive $500 and runners-up take home $250.
The overall winner receives $1500 and the opportunity to attend, at no cost, the National Community Awards.
Anyone can nominate a group or organisation, including the organisations themselves.
Nomination forms are available from the council offices or www.trustpower.co.nz/communitycentre.
The awards will be presented at a function on August 2.
