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Rangatahi Vision

Ngā mihi

Nominations closed

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The 2023 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award Winners has just been announced.In one unforgettable evening, we celebrated the seven people who have helped shape the last 12 months in New Zealand. Their impact is already being felt. We can’t wait to see what the year will bring.

2023

winners

Professor Rangi Mātāmua

Kiwibank

New Zealander of the Year

Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau

Kindness Collective

Mitre 10

New Zealand Community of the Year

Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

Camden Howitt

Ministry for the Environment

New Zealand Environmental Hero of the Year

Te Toa Taiao o te Tau

Dr Ellen Nelson

Kiwibank

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Te Pou Toko o te Tau

Emily Blythe

Spark

New Zealand Innovator of the Year

Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau

Sir Mark Dunajtschik

Ryman Healthcare

Senior New Zealander of the Year

 Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau

Shaneel Lal

University of Canterbury

Young New Zealander of the Year

 Te Mātātahi o te Tau

2023/24

Key Dates

25 July

Nominations Open

31 August

Nominations  Closed

Mid-November

Local Heroes  Announced

Mid-December

Semi-Finalists  Announced

Mid-February 2024

 Finalists  Announced

Mid-March 2024

Awards Gala  Dinner

Join us as we kick off our nominations phase of The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa! For five weeks – from 25 July to 31 August – we invite you to put forth your champions of positive change. Awarded across seven categories and celebrating people from every age, stage and background; this is your chance to shine a spotlight on the people who matter to you.

As nominations come flooding in, we’re hard at work bringing together seven incredible judging panels comprised of sector leaders and experts from across Aotearoa. When nominations close on 31 August, all nominations will go through two rounds of intensive debate, as with great care and rigour our judges select the most powerful stories of the year.

In mid-November, we proudly reveal and celebrate the top 100 nominees for the Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau. These people are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues, our front line workers, our volunteers – the people that work behind the scenes every day to make Aotearoa a better place. Each receives a medal, and will move through to the next round of judging to be considered for the final award.

From thousands of public nominations, the top ten Semi-Finalists across all categories are announced. This is a huge moment to collectively appreciate and celebrate the people who have made invaluable contributions to our nation – from transforming local communities to putting Aotearoa New Zealand on a world stage.

Enter: our Executive Judging Panel. Made of esteemed leaders from diverse fields across New Zealand, this panel will meet and select the top three Finalists from across the seven categories. Their selections will be announced in mid-February 2024, and celebrated as our 2024 Finalists. You’ll have to join us on Awards Night to see who takes out the title!

Join us for the greatest night of the year! Our annual Awards Night is set for March 2024 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Be in the room with the best of Aotearoa as we celebrate the the 2024 Semi Finalists, Finalists and announce the 2024 Winners across all seven categories. Nothing beats the energy, emotion and significance of this special night. Limited tickets will be on sale in October, so stay tuned!