New Zealander of the Year Awards

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]

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

References

↑"Ironic Start-Up To New Zealander Of The Year Award | Scoop News".
↑"About". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"New Zealander of the Year – Kiwibank". www.kiwibank.co.nz. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
12345Gadd, David (4 February 2010). "From streetkid to New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
1 2 3 4 5"Scientist named NZer of the year". Otago Daily Times. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
1 2 3 4 5"Sam Johnson named young NZer of year". The Press. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
↑"New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
1234Garrick, Moana Tapaleao, Gia (17 February 2016). "Richie McCaw named New Zealander of the year". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 17 February 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
1 2 3 4 5"Director Taika Waititi wins New Zealander of the Year award". Stuff.
↑"New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
1 2"New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
↑"New Zealander of the Year". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
1 2 3 4 5Daly, Michael (31 March 2022). "New Zealander of the Year 2022 – here is a full list of the winners". Stuff. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
↑Jack, Amberleigh (30 March 2023). "Live: Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa". Stuff.
↑Jamieson, Debbie (27 March 2024). "Climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8"Professor Bev Lawton named the New Zealander of the Year". RNZ News. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
↑Penfold, Paula (8 May 2026). "Sir Rod Drury returns New Zealander of the Year award after Stuff investigation". Stuff. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
12"Category Criteria | New Zealander of the Year Awards". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
↑"2013 Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
↑"Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
1 2"Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7"Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Rod Drury wins New Zealander of the Year supreme award". The Press. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
↑"2013 Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
↑"Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
1 2"Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
↑"2013 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
↑"New Zealand Local Hero". nzawards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"New Zealand Local Hero of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
1 2"New Zealand Local Hero of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
↑"2013 Mitre 10 Community of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
↑"New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"McCaw New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
1 2"New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
↑"New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
↑"New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
↑"New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
1 2"New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
123"About". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

External links

New Zealander of the Year Awards official site

[award2026-18] Sir Rod Drury returned the 2026 award after being publicly accused of sexual misconduct by three former employees.^[17]

[1] "Ironic Start-Up To New Zealander Of The Year Award | Scoop News".

[2] "About". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[3] "New Zealander of the Year – Kiwibank". www.kiwibank.co.nz. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[:1-4] 12345Gadd, David (4 February 2010). "From streetkid to New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[ODT_2011-5] 1 2 3 4 5"Scientist named NZer of the year". Otago Daily Times. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[Press_2012-6] 1 2 3 4 5"Sam Johnson named young NZer of year". The Press. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[7] "New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[:0-8] 1234Garrick, Moana Tapaleao, Gia (17 February 2016). "Richie McCaw named New Zealander of the year". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 17 February 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[Stuff_2017-9] 1 2 3 4 5"Director Taika Waititi wins New Zealander of the Year award". Stuff.

[10] "New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[nzderofyear-11] 1 2"New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

[12] "New Zealander of the Year". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 31 March 2021.

[Stuff_2022-13] 1 2 3 4 5Daly, Michael (31 March 2022). "New Zealander of the Year 2022 – here is a full list of the winners". Stuff. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

[14] Jack, Amberleigh (30 March 2023). "Live: Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa". Stuff.

[15] Jamieson, Debbie (27 March 2024). "Climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

[RNZ_2025-16] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8"Professor Bev Lawton named the New Zealander of the Year". RNZ News. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.

[17] Penfold, Paula (8 May 2026). "Sir Rod Drury returns New Zealander of the Year award after Stuff investigation". Stuff. Retrieved 8 May 2026.

[:3-19] 12"Category Criteria | New Zealander of the Year Awards". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

[20] "2013 Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[21] "Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[22] "Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[youngnzderofyear-23] 1 2"Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

[Press_2026-24] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7"Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Rod Drury wins New Zealander of the Year supreme award". The Press. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.

[25] "2013 Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[26] "Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[27] "Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[seniornzderofyear-28] 1 2"Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

[29] "2013 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[30] "New Zealand Local Hero". nzawards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[31] "New Zealand Local Hero of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[localheroofyear-32] 1 2"New Zealand Local Hero of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

[33] "2013 Mitre 10 Community of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[34] "New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[35] "McCaw New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[36] "New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[communityofyear-37] 1 2"New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

[38] "New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.

[39] "New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

[40] "New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[innovatorofyear-41] 1 2"New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

[:2-42] 123"About". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

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New Zealander of the Year Awards

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