Make a nomination
Who can be nominated for a Prime Minister's Oranga Tamariki award, and how to make and submit a nomination.
Who can be nominated
The Prime Minister's Oranga Tamariki Awards are about the potential a young person in care has and how they may be proving this already. We are recognising their incredible journeys and offering support so they can continue to succeed and realise their ambitions for the future, despite their difficult start in life.
Any young person in care who is committed to their goals can be nominated. They must be:
- aged between 15 and 21 years at the time applications are called for
- in care or youth justice, or have experienced care within the last two years (within Oranga Tamariki or an iwi or NGO provider across New Zealand).
Who can make a nomination
Anyone can nominate a young person in care for an award. This includes all social workers, caregivers, teachers, support workers, and people from the community such as kaumatua, coaches or mentors. Nominators must be people who are positively and strongly involved in the young person’s life.
How to submit a nomination
- Make sure the young person you want to nominate is eligible.
- Fill out the nomination form (you can either download and print the form or fill it in electronically).
- Gather supporting evidence and save this into a single file.
- Send your completed nomination and supporting evidence by email to: PrimeMinistersAwards@ot.govt.nz
Get your nominations in by 5pm, Friday 4 September 2020.
Tips for a great nomination
Get the young person involved
Being nominated is an achievement in itself and all nominees will be acknowledged. Where possible, include the young person you are nominating in your application process. They may want to write a letter, include things like their artwork, photos and achievements at school.
Tell their story
The application should tell the story of the potential of the young person, rather than too much detail about their past.
Be creative
Include copies of certificates, photos and anything else that will make your young person really stand out. You can also include references from people like a teacher, sports coach, school principal or caregiver.
We’re here to help. If you have any questions about your nomination, read our FAQs or contact us at: PrimeMinistersAwards@ot.govt.nz

Published: July 17, 2019 · Updated: July 13, 2020