Invercargill City Council had previously made Civic Honours Awards on a semi-regular basis since the 1980s, at first annually and then taking place once every three years.
No awards have been made since 2016, as a result of the council’s focus on the Department of Internal Affairs review, and then Covid.
Seventy-three awards have previously been made for voluntary community service for recreation, youth activities, social welfare, educational services, cultural services, religious affairs and community affairs.
Cr Darren Ludlow said he asked for the discussion to come forward after being approached by a member of the public.
"I certainly support us reintroducing the opportunity to recognise people who volunteer within the community and have given a great service."
He recommended the council reintroduce the awards on a triennial basis.
Cr Trish Boyle said she believed it was an excellent idea, and wanted it to see it run annually.
"My reason being, there are a number of people in our community who could be eligible for these awards and to do it every three years, we are missing a whole lot of people."
Cr Ludlow said while he understood the sentiment of holding the awards that recognised people annually, the awards were previously held triennially and there were not "huge numbers" of people being inducted.
Holding the awards once every three years would help ensure a significant threshold, he said.
Councillors agreed to reinstate the awards on a two-yearly basis, and confirmed a change to the delegations of the Community Wellbeing Committee to review applications and recommend awards to the council, beginning next year.
