New Zealander of the Year Awards
Rescission Policy – Nominee and Award Winner
Last updated: 5 November 2024

Policy purpose and priority

The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards | Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa recognise and celebrate those in New Zealand who contribute to make New Zealand a better place. It is important we protect the integrity and spirit of the Awards and this policy is concerned with protecting the reputation, integrity and value of the Awards.

Information may come to light about a Nominee or Recipient of an Award which means their participation or holding of an Award could damage the reputation, integrity and value of the Awards. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the removal of a Nominee or rescission of any Award. The Awards Office may depart from this policy if it considers it appropriate in a particular case.

This policy takes priority over all other documentation relating to the Awards (including but not limited to the nomination form, and any information published or provided by the Awards Office or any Awards partner).

Definitions and scope

In this Policy:

(a) Award means the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards programme and shall include all categories.

(b) Awards Office means the Head office of Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award.

(c) Nominee includes all nominees, medallists, semi-finalists, finalists for an Award.

(d) Review Panel means a panel convened by the Awards Office for the purpose of conducting a review.

(e) Recipient includes all Awards winners (regardless of the category or date of the award).

This Policy applies to Nominees and Recipients regardless of whether they are alive or deceased, regardless of when the time of nomination or when the Award was given, and will apply equally to individuals and groups.

The Awards Office or Review Panel may act on any information available to it:

• whatever the source of that information;
• regardless of whether it would be admissible in a judicial process;
• regardless of the time period which the information relates to;
• regardless of whether it contains allegation about a Nominee or Recipient of an Award and regardless of the extent to which such allegations have been put to the Nominee or Recipient.

1. Process if concerns arise about a Nominee or a Recipient

This Policy sets out the process which will apply where the Awards Office or any Awards partner becomes aware of information about a Nominee or Recipient of an Award which suggests that their continued participation or holding of an Award (or previous holding of an Award) may adversely affect the reputation, integrity and/or value of the Awards.

Without limitation, this may include information which suggests the Nominee or Recipient has or may have:

• engaged in conduct or acted in a manner that is in conflict with the spirit and intent of the Awards or is otherwise damaging to the reputation of the Awards;
• been charged or convicted of an offence;
• been censured by a relevant authority, institution or professional body; and
• failed to disclose information or provided partial or misleading information during the Awards nomination or judging process which could have impacted the outcome of the Awards process.

The Awards Office may of its own initiative or at the request of an Awards partner convene a Review Panel to consider the information and determine the appropriate outcome.

The Review Panel will:

• comprise such members as the Awards Office considers appropriate;
• respect natural justice obligations towards the Nominee or Recipient while also remaining free to act on the basis of information which has not been put to the Nominee or Recipient (for example, due to obligations of confidence owed to the provider of the information);
• act on the basis of a consensus or majority of its members; and
• determine its own process.

The Review Panel will determine whether there are reasonable grounds to remove a Nominee or rescind an Award in order to protect the reputation, integrity and value of the Awards.

2. Outcome

1. If the Review Panel determines that a Nominee should be removed or an Award rescinded, the decision will be final and binding (subject to point 5 below).

2. If the Review Panel determines against removing a Nominee or rescinding an Award, the Awards Office may review the matter again should new information arise.

3. If the Review Panel determines that a Nominee should be removed or an Award rescinded (or if the Nominee chooses to withdraw or the Recipient chooses to relinquish/surrender their Award, or if the Nominee or Recipient refuses to engage in the review process), then:

   a. Immediate removal from Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards channels: All records associated with the individual will be removed from all public Awards channels, by the Awards Office. This includes, but is not limited to; Awards website, social media platforms, and any other promotional materials.

   b. Formal removal of Award or title: The Awards Office will formally notify the Recipient in writing of the rescinding of their Award. This communication will include details of the incident that led to the decision, the specific actions taken by the Awards Office, and the effective date of the award or title removal.

   c. Statement release: The Awards Office may create a media release and/or official statement to set out the decision. Depending on the severity of the incident (case-by-case basis) the media release/statement will either be issued immediately to major media outlets, or will be issued in response to media queries as they arise. This statement may also be posted on public Awards channels for clarity on the Awards stance. Advice will be taken before this is done and any views of the affected parties may be taken into consideration.

   d. Removal from further involvement with the Awards Programme: The individual involved will no longer be eligible for future nomination or involvement with the Awards event in any capacity. This includes but is not limited to, nominations taken forward to judging either as an individual or as part of a community, Judging, Awards Patron, Sponsor, Partner, attendee at the Awards Galas.

4. Confidentiality: To maintain the integrity of the process and respect the privacy of all parties involved, the Awards Office will handle all matters related to the rescinding of award or awards role confidentially (as possible), ensuring that only authorised people have access to sensitive information.

5. Review and Reconsideration: In the event that the affected party/parties demonstrate that the allegations or information were false or new evidence emerges that alters the circumstances surrounding their Awards rescindment, the Awards Office reserves the right to review and reconsider the decision of the Award or title removal.