The Operator of the Year Award is an acknowledgement by industry peers to an individual who has stood out in their efforts to improve themselves, their team or the profession.

This award is open to all WIOG members in the water and wastewater treatment and reticulation fields. This individual will stand out for their dedication, passion and commitment to the industry.

The prize is a choice of attendance to the Water NZ Annual conference, or a trip to the WIOA Victorian conference in Bendigo, Australia, including a study tour with the travelling WIOG group. The Operator of the Year Award is generously sponsored by WIOG.

The recipient will be announced at the WIOG annual conference and in various water industry publications.

This is an acknowledgment by industry peers to a water industry trainee, regardless of age and with less than five year's experience as an Operator, who has stood out with their enthusiasm and passion to learn about the water industry and demonstrated excellent progress in their training.

The previous age criteria of the person being under 25 years old has changed to allow nomination for a person of any age, but with less than 5 year's experience as an Operator. 

The recipient must be a current financial member of WIOG, and will be recognised at the WIOG Annual Conference and in various water industry publications.

The New Operator of the Year for 2019 will be awarded at the May 2020 Conference in Napier.  The prize is for the winner to travel with the WIOG tour group to Australia, attend the WIOA conference in Bendigo with the option of an placement opportunity. All expenses paid.

The New Operator of the Year Award is generously sponsored by Hall Machinery

The Mentor of the Year Award is an acknowledgement by industry peers to an individual who has been a fantastic role model, a great person to work with and someone whose ability you want to be recognised.

Award Criteria

• Demonstrates an outstanding commitment to training.
• Support and encourages trainees and ensures training is implemented.
• The Mentor is to be nominated by the Mentee (the person who has been mentored).

The recipient must be a current financial member of WIOG, and will be recognised at the WIOG annual conference and in various water industry publications.

The prize is for the winner to travel with the WIOG tour group and attend the WIOA Victorian conference in Bendigo, Australia. 

The Mentor of the Year Award is generously sponsored by Connexis

This is an opportunity to share your innovative ideas with other Members. Applications for the Te Oranga Wai prize are now open No prerequisite exists, just a drive for self- improvement or improvement of the wider water industry.

This award is open to all current individual WIOG Members. Corporate Supporters are not eligible however individual Members employed by Corporate Supporters may apply.

Applicants are asked to submit a report on one of the following:

1. A project related to the New Zealand water or wastewater industries and provide details on how the project could benefit the industry (ideas need not be limited to treatment plants but can be ideas based on education, community awareness, human resources, research etc); or

2. Ways in which you have personally contributed to the community through your work experience etc, within the water or wastewater industries and provide details how this could be applied to help improve the water or wastewater system in a developing country.

 The Te Oranga Wai Award is generously sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific