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New Zealander of the Year Awards

Set of annual awards in New Zealand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The New Zealander of the Year Awards, currently known as the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, celebrate the achievements of New Zealanders and were founded in 2010 by Australian Jeffrey John Hopp. Nominations are accepted from the general public and a judging panel selects finalists in each category. The awards are presented in Auckland in March each year.[1][2][3]

Categories

The categories for the awards are:

  • Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year (Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa)
  • University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year (Te Mātātahi o te Tau)
  • Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year (Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau)
  • Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year (Te Pou Toko o te Tau)
  • Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year (Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau)
  • Spark New Zealand Innovator of the Year (Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau)
  • Genesis New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year (Te Toa Taiao o te Tau)
  • New Zealand Legacy Award (Te Pou Tūroa o Aotearoa)

New Zealander of the Year

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2010Ray Avery[4]
2011Paul Callaghan[5]
2012Richard Taylor[6]
2013Anne Salmond
2014Lance O'Sullivan
2015Stephen Tindall[7]
2016Richie McCaw[8]
2017Taika Waititi[9]
2018Kristine Bartlett[10]
2019Mike King[11]
2020Jennifer Ward-Lealand[11]
2021Siouxsie Wiles[12]
2022Tipene O'Regan[13]
2023Rangi Mātāmua[14]
2024Jim Salinger[15]
2025Bev Lawton[16]
2026No winner[i]
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  1. [i]
    Sir Rod Drury returned the 2026 award after being publicly accused of sexual misconduct by three former employees.[17]

Young New Zealander of the Year

Nominees must be aged between 15 and 30 years of age.[18]

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2010Divya Dhar[4]
2011Jamie Fenton[5]
2012Sam Johnson[6]
2013Sam Judd[19]
2014Parris Goebel
2015Guy Ryan[20]
2016Lydia Ko[8]
2017Rez Gardi[9]
2018David Cameron[21]
2019Kendall Flutey[22]
2020Georgia Hale[22]
2021Jazz Thornton
2022Ezra Hirawani[13]
2023Shaneel Lal
2024Simran Kaur
2025Nu'uali'i Eteroa Lafaele[16]
2026Lucy Blakiston[23]
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Senior New Zealander of the Year

Nominees must be over 70 years old.[18]

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2010Eion Edgar[4]
2011Alison Neill[5]
2012Malcolm Cameron[6]
2013Ian Grant[24]
2014Frances Denz
2015Donald Sew Hoy[25]
2016John Russell[8]
2017Sue Paterson[9]
2018Kim Workman[26]
2019Bill Glass[27]
2020Margaret Sparrow[27]
2021Doug Wilson
2022 Tipene O'Regan
2023Mark Dunajtschik
2024Bob Francis
2025Elizabeth Ellis[16]
2026Alan and Hazel Kerr[23]
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Local Hero of the Year

The award is made to an individual who is making or has made a significant contribution to their local community.

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2010Sam Chapman[4]
2011Billy Graham[5]
2012Henare O'Keefe[6]
2013Jim Morunga[28]
2014Cecilia Sullivan-Grant
2015Billie Jordan[29]
2016Selwyn Cook[8]
2017Hayden Smith[9]
2018Ricky Houghton[30]
2019Pera Barrett[31]
2020Nick Loosley[31]
2021Shannon Te Huia
2022David Letele[13]
2023Ellen Nelson
2024Sally Walker
2025Subash Chandar K[16]
2026Māhera Maihi[23]
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Community of the Year

Regional or national community groups, iwi, geographical regions or collectives of people in any sector are eligible for the award.

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient
2010Victory Village, Nelson[4]
2011Gibbston Community Association[5]
2012Paeroa[6]
2013Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ[32]
2014Victim Support
2015Paihia[33]
2016Community Fruit Harvesting[34]
2017Randwick Park
2018Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust[35]
2019Pillars[36]
2020Good Bitches Baking[36]
2021Christchurch Mosque Victims Group
2022Matakaoa[13]
2023Kindness Collective
2024Cyclone Gabrielle volunteers
2025Lake Alice survivors[16]
2026Safeguarding Children Initiative[23]
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Innovator of the Year

The category was introduced in 2014.

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2014Sean Simpson
2015Peter Beck[37]
2016Hyvan Anaesthesia Ltd[38]
2017Ed Gane[9]
2018Team New Zealand design team[39]
2019Ian Taylor[40]
2020Bill Buckley[40]
2021Ranjna Patel
2022Mark Sagar
2023Emily Blythe
2024Cecilia Robinson
2025Emma Lewisham[16]
2026Craig Piggott[23]
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Sustainability Leader of the Year

The category was introduced in 2022, and was known as Environmental Hero of the year from 2022 to 2024.

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2022Charmaine Bailie[13]
2023Camden Howitt
2024Nicola MacDonald
2025Deborah Manning[16]
2026Mike Casey[23]
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Legacy Award

The Legacy Award was inaugurated in 2024, and recognises an individual or individuals whose contribution to New Zealand over a sustained period of time has played a significant role in defining national identity.

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Portrait
2024Wayne Smith
2025Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood[16]
2026Lynley Dodd[23]
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Nomination and selection process

Any member of the public can nominate an individual (aged 15 years or older), organisation or group for an award. A judging panel of one executive judge and two or three additional judges creates a list of semi-finalists, followed by a shortlist of three finalists for each award. The finalists are invited to the New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala in Auckland and the winners are announced on the night.[41] Local Hero Medal recipients are awarded throughout December each year.[41]

All nominees receive a certificate of achievement, and each of the six category award winners receives a trophy and a prize of NZ$5,000.[41]

In 2020, the executive judges were:

  • Tess Casey, CEO, Neighbourhood Support NZ
  • Bill Dwyer, Commercial and Corporate Lawyer
  • Jamie Fitzgerald, CEO, Inspiring Performance
  • Marisa Fong, Trustee, Simplicity NZ; Director, Masimaya Consulting, Founder/Director, Arné Skincare
  • Abby Foote, Professional Director
  • Steve Jurkovich, CEO, Kiwibank
  • Miriama Kamo, Te Koruru, Patron
  • Bill Moran, Professional Director, Chair, Sport New Zealand
  • Mere Pohatu, Regional Director, Ministry of Maori Development
  • Caren Rangi, ONZM, Deputy Chair of Creative New Zealand
  • Lou Sanson, Director-General of the Department of Conservation

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External links

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