The Blues Awards are part of a tradition from England. The blue colours of Oxford and Cambridge Universities came to symbolise sporting excellence.

Blues Awards history in New Zealand

The earliest recorded Blue in New Zealand was awarded in 1922 to H.J. Wiley for athletics. The tradition has been firmly embraced since 1930.

Categories of the award

While a Blues Award has traditionally been a sporting accolade, there are now three categories of the award at the University of Auckland:

• Sports
• Arts and Cultural
• Service and Leadership

• The University of Auckland Blues Selection Panel will review nominations.
• All nominations should be based upon activities completed between 1 January 2016 and 28 July 2017.
• Students must have been enrolled in the University at the time of the activities on which the nomination is based, although they may have graduated since then. 
• Students may self-nominate.
• Students must have maintained good academic standing.

Individuals will be assessed against the following criteria for each award:

Sports Blue

Successful nominees will have represented their country at a senior or age group level in a sport recognised by the national sporting body (for example Sport NZ and/or a sport which has a national sporting body). Nominees may also have competed for a franchise team in a national or international tournament (for example the Mystics, Blues or Warriors etc). Nominees may also be considered for achieving success in nationally significant events. The Evaluation Panel will consider the significance of the event and the quality of the competition (for example top three placing in the Coast to Coast event or a top three placing in the elite field of the Round Taupo cycle challenge).

Arts and Cultural Blue

Successful nominees will have achieved external success in their chosen field which may include (but is not limited to) dance, dramatic and cultural performance, artworks, architecture, design, film or media, writing, music, song, debating or oration. Students have shown diligence and commitment in their area.

Blues in Arts and Cultural are awarded for achievements at an international or national level.

Service and Leadership Blue

In assessing nominations, the panel will consider the following criteria:

Contribution and impact

• How the student has demonstrated a significant contribution to their community - either at a local, regional, national or international level.
• The value and benefit of their contributions at these levels.
• Demonstrate leadership and initiative in setting direction, supporting others and bringing about change.

Leadership and initiative

• The student’s involvement in setting the direction of a group, organisation or cause in which they are involved.
• How far they have taken the lead in a project or area of work which is complex in nature to achieve a positive outcome for their organisation or peers.
• Their efforts to support, mentor, train or encourage others.
• Their ability to identify recurring problems and take steps to minimise or eliminate them.

Major Awards

From all nominations, the panel will select individuals for Major Awards. The categories are:

• Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Award
• Māori Sportsperson of the Year Award
• Para-athlete Sportsperson of the Year Award
• Award for the Most Meritorious Performance (Sport)
• Award for the Most Meritorious Performance (Arts)
• Award for the most outstanding contribution (Service and Leadership).

The 2016 awards ceremony was held on Thursday 22 September at Shed 10 on the waterfront. 152 Blues were awarded to students who had achieved in sports, the arts and service and leadership.

Read more about the 2016 Blues Awards major award winners.

For questions about the Blues Awards,  phone +64 9 923 7581 or email us.