The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award is available to all 14–24 year olds, regardless of their background.
The Award has three levels, each progressively more challenging.
Participants are required to complete four sections at each level: Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. At Gold level, participants also complete a Residential Project.
Latest Posts
Response to COVID-19
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Managing the Award in a COVID-19 environment National Office As you are all aware, we have a different way of managing how we live at present. Currently the Award National Office is operating business as usual as much as possible. While we are now all working from home, it is anticipated that there will be little disruption to... Keep Reading
Kākāriki Journey launch
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award focusing on the environment Keep Reading
Youth Hub - Education to Employment
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Education to Employment In October, we officially launched our partnership with Youth Hub - an online network where young people can create a profile, network with others and use their profile to apply for jobs. Our participants can document their Award journey and highlight all the skills and attributes they have gained throug... Keep Reading
First MACPAC Volunteer Award announced
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
First MACPAC Volunteer Award announced Award Leaders are the backbone of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award (the Award) in Aotearoa and are the face of the Award to our participants. We simply couldn’t run the Award without the support of our leaders who so generously give their time to help our rangatahi to achie... Keep Reading
Kiwi young people supporting their communities
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Kiwi young people supporting their communities As Aotearoa New Zealand celebrates National Volunteers Week, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award (the Award) is focused on highlighting the important role that young Kiwis play in supporting their communities and country through volunteering. Karen Ross, National Director of the Award, s... Keep Reading
GravityLab simplifying Award day-to-day operations
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
GravityLab simplifying Award day-to-day operations The Award team have been working on building more meaningful and lasting relationships with our community across different generations, regions and life stages. To support this initiative, we recently partnered with GravityLab to move all our participant, volunteer and Award unit data into Sa... Keep Reading
Young offenders celebrate gaining their Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Young offenders celebrate gaining their Award A group of ten young offenders at Christchurch men's prison are celebrating - having gained their Duke of Edinburgh awards. To achieve thier Award the young inmates - whose ages range from 17 to 20 - completed outdoor pursuits, volunteered in the prison gardens, built push-bikes, raised money for... Keep Reading
Taking on the great New Zealand outdoors
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Taking on the great New Zealand outdoors Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award (the Award) National Director Karen Ross and Christine (Grover) Worsfold from Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits & Education Centre (TOPEC) have signed an agreement to work together, providing young people in the Taranaki region with greater opportunities to g... Keep Reading
Partnership to benefit New Zealand's Cadet Forces
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Partnership to benefit New Zealand’s Cadet Forces Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award (the Award) National Director, Karen Ross, and New Zealand Cadet Forces (NZCF) Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Grant Morris, have signed an agreement to partner together and help cadets and young officers gain their Award. The Award progr... Keep Reading
Duke of Ed participants give 67,000 hours of service to the community
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Duke of Ed students give 67,000 hours of voluntary service to the community Over the past 12 months, Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award participants have given a total of 67,000 hours of voluntary service to the community throughout Aotearoa. Participants volunteer in all sorts of ways – working in conservation, helping at... Keep Reading