Bay of Plenty world champions Peter Burling and Lisa Carrington headline a strong group of local athletes nominated for the Halberg Awards after making their mark on the world stage.

Organised by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, the awards honour the achievements of New Zealand athletes during the 2014 calendar year.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in action at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain. Photo: Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy.

This year, 26 different sports are represented across 80 nominations received from national sports organisations and an independent voting academy – a jump from 58 in 2013.

Burling and NZ Men's 49er Class teammate Blair Tuke have been nominated in the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Team of the Year category, while Carrington is in the corresponding women's award.

The pair have had stellar years on the water, with Burling and Tuke winning both the House of Travel Sailor of the Year Award and 49er world title at the ISAF Sailing World Championships for the second straight year.

Carrington defended her K1 200m world title in Moscow, and landed double gold in the 200m and 500m at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Milan.

Other Bay sport stars receiving nominations are Rotorua rower Julia Edward and the Scott Bartlett-coached Surf Life Saving New Zealand Team that won Rescue 14, securing back-to-back Lifesaving World Championships.

After winning the 2012 version in Adelaide, the 12-strong team, including Omanu's Max Beattie and Papamoa's Natalie Peat, took out the French edition in September.

For Edwards, the nomination comes a week after claiming the Supreme Award at the annual Bay of Plenty Sports Awards. Edward and rowing partner Sophie Mackenzie won gold in the women's lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.

The nominations mean Burling, Edward and the SLNZ side all face off in the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Team of the Year, while Bartlett is up for SKY SPORT Coach of the Year.

The High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Yearreceived the most nominations, with 19 athletes from 13 sports put forward. The nominations list includes Brendon McCullum, Mahe Drysdale, Richie McCaw, Shaun Johnson and Steven Adams, plus seven cyclists.

The High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year will again be hotly contested by 2013 Halberg Supreme Award winner Lydia Ko and fellow finalists Lauren Boyle, Valerie Adams, and Carrington.

Papamoa surf life saver Andrew Trembath has also been nominated for the Emerging Talent Award after claiming gold medals in the men's 200m obstacle swim, the men's 100m rescue medley and the men's 100m manikin carry with fins at the lifesaving world championships.

Award winners will be announced at the 52nd Halberg Awards at Vector Arena, Auckland, on February 11, 2015. Wednesday 11 February, 2015.