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At the Recreation Aotearoa Awards held in Wellington on Thursday, Mr Cox was awarded the Mark Mitchell Memorial Trophy for his contribution to the wider recreation industry.
Mr Cox has been in his current position as Head of Recreation, Sport and Events since 2018 and currently leads a team of 600.
Since joining the Council as Operations Manager for the Centennial Recreation and Sports Centre in 2010, he has held a variety of roles.
He has been involved in the repairs and rebuilds of Council recreation facilities following the 2011 earthquake, was Council lead for the development of the New Brighton Playground and He Puna Taimoana Hot Pools, and led the development and opening of Taiora: QEII.
Outside of the local government sector, Mr Cox has been heavily involved in the sporting sector for over 30 years, particularly surf life saving, as a competitor, coach, volunteer and administrator. He competed and served on local sports committees from a young age and won more than 20 National Surf Life Saving titles. After completing his Bachelor of Commerce at Canterbury University, he began his working life as Chief Executive at Surf Life Saving Bay of Plenty.
“I have a passion: I love sport and am lucky to have received so many opportunities from a young age. Now I am driving to make sure others have the same opportunities.”
The award was richly deserved, says Council General Manager Citizens and Community Mary Richardson.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have had a person of Nigel’s calibre leading the city’s sport and recreation services, including the rebuild of many of the city’s recreation facilities. He has the respect of the people he works with, partner agencies and the wider recreation and sports sector. This award is testament to the regard in which he is held, not just by the Council but the wider recreation industry.”
Mr Cox says he is proud to be acknowledged with an award previously won by people he knows and respects. He says he enjoys being part of a sector that involves many people working together for a common good.
“It’s humbling to look back and reflect on all the people who’ve gone before you and the work that they’ve done. As you get older you appreciate that more, being part of a system and everyone that’s working to making it better, the volunteers that sometimes go unthanked. They make a massive difference for our sector; you can’t have sports clubs without refs, coaches and parents, so being part of that makes me pretty proud.”