Be in the room!

2025 Awards Gala

BUY LIMITED TICKETS

It’s time to celebrate the best of Aotearoa. Join us for our annual Awards Gala and be in the room as we announce your 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa winners.

Each guest will be treated to:

An heart-warming evening of celebration, impact and exceptional hospitality hosted by our venue partner: Viaduct Events Centre.
A bespoke 3-course menu by Peter Gordon and Collective.
An open bar with New Zealand’s finest wines, beers and cocktails.
Access to the onsite Winner’s Lounge following the Awards ceremony.
Address from our Awards Te Koruru Patron Miriama Kamo.
The chance to rub shoulders with the best of the best Aotearoa have to offer, individuals who have contributed to the improvement of our country over the past 12 months.

How the night will roll:

6.00pm – Doors open to Viaduct Events Centre, canapés, bubbles and cocktails in the foyer
6.30pm – Welcome from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and seating begins
7.00pm – Awards ceremony begins
10.30pm – Awards ceremony concludes all guests welcomed into the onsite Winner’s Lounge
11.30pm – Event ends

Dress code
Whether it’s your finest black tie or cultural attire, wear what feels right for you.

Accessibility
Accessibility is a priority for our guests, we will have a sign language interpreter presenting for the duration for the Awards ceremony. We invite you to get in touch if you need any access assistance office@nzawards.org.nz

Additional Information
Please note that there may be use of strobe lighting before, during and after the Awards ceremony.

Awards Sponsors

Event Partners

2024/25

Key Dates

24 July

Nominations
Open

26 August

Nominations
Closed

21 November

Local Heroes
Announced

12 December

Semi-Finalists
Announced

26 February

Finalists
Announced

20 March

Awards
Gala

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 four weeks – from 24 July to 26 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 26 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 late-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.

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 February 2025, and celebrated as our 2025 Finalists. You’ll have to join us on Awards Night in March to see who takes out the title!

Join us for the greatest night of the year! Our annual Awards Gala is set for April 2025 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Be in the room with the best of Aotearoa as we celebrate the the Semi-Finalists, Finalists and announce the 2025 Winners across all seven categories. Nothing beats the energy, emotion and significance of this special night. Limited tickets will be on sale, so stay tuned!