Plain English Awards

celebrate New Zealand's clearest communicators

Terms and conditions

By entering the Awards, you agree to these terms


For all entries, except People’s Choice nominations, you agree to pay a fee

For all categories, except the People’s Choice category, you agree to pay the entry fee of $125+GST for each entry ($65+GST for registered charities). You’ll need to pay online by credit card when you enter. If you’re a charity, you’ll need to provide your registration number to be eligible for the reduced fee.

Nominations for the People’s Choice Awards are free.


You may enter documents or websites for more than one award

You may enter the same material for more than one award, as long as your entry meets the requirements for the category.


Judges will take into account how much external help you had

If two entries are equally good, judges will give greater weight to the entry that was produced entirely in-house.

When you enter, you must say:

  • if you had an outside agency work on the entry
  • how much work that agency did for you, for example, writing, substantive redrafting, copy editing, proofreading.

Your details will be provided to sponsors

You agree to be contacted after the Awards ceremony by sponsor organisations to discuss the services they offer on a no-obligation basis.


You’ll provide a short media statement for the Awards website if you are a finalist or winner

You’ll send us a short media statement within a week of being announced as a finalist. Your statement is an opportunity for you to publicly acknowledge the benefits of using plain English at your place.


You’ll come to the ceremony to collect your award

If you win, you agree that a representative from your organisation will collect the award. (A small ticket fee applies.)


We’ll publish information and photos about you and your entry

You agree to information and photos about your entry and organisation being published on our website and in other media.