Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa Finalists Announced for Seven Categories

Finalists across seven categories have now been announced for the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa, to be held on Thursday 19 March 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

From thousands of nominations, these remarkable New Zealanders stood out; identified by our independent Executive Judging Panel for using their passion to make our country a better place.

Miriama Kamo, Te Koruru Patron of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa says, “Our 2026 Finalists reflect the heart and soul of Aotearoa over the past twelve months – people leading with purpose, courage and heart. Across every category, we see service, innovation and kaitiakitanga in action: protecting people and the planet, strengthening communities, advancing equity, and shaping bold solutions for the future. Together, they remind us that real leadership is grounded in compassion – and that when we care deeply and act bravely, we can change lives.”

2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa Finalists:

• Dame Julie Chapman (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Dame Julie Chapman transforms compassion into action, building life-saving pathways for vulnerable children and pets across Aotearoa New Zealand through her leadership of KidsCan and Pet Refuge.
• Sir Rod Drury (Otago Ōtākou) – Sir Rod Drury (Ngāi Tahu), pioneering entrepreneur and founder of Xero, continues to shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s technology landscape through innovation, investment, and mentorship.
• Sir Richard Faull (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Sir Richard Faull (Te Āti Awa) is a visionary neuroscientist whose discoveries and leadership have transformed global understanding of the human brain.

Steve Jurkovich, Chief Executive of Kiwibank says, “Dame Julie Chapman, Sir Rod Drury and Sir Richard Faull leaders whose vision and determination are shaping the future of our country in profoundly different ways. From protecting our most vulnerable tamariki (children) and whānau (family), to driving innovation and backing the next generation of Kiwi enterprise, to advancing life-changing neuroscience research. Their impact reaches from our local communities to the global stage.

Kiwibank exists to make Kiwi better off, and that means backing the people who are building a stronger future for us all. It’s a privilege to celebrate three exceptional Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa Finalists whose mahi (work) is strengthening our economy, deepening our care for one another, and helping move Aotearoa forward with confidence.”

2026 Category Award Semi-Finalists:

Go Media Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o Te Tau

• Harlem-Cruz Ihaia (Hawke’s Bay Te Matau-a-Māui) –  Harlem-Cruz Ihaia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hineuru, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a trailblazing wāhine Māori leader. Through Pūrotu Limited and Making Moves, she is transforming futures for whānau across Aotearoa.
• Léon Bristow (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – As Founder of BEINGS and an internationally awarded creative leader, Léon Bristow is driving inclusion and equity through storytelling, design, and representation in Aotearoa New Zealand’s creative industries.
• Lucy Blakiston (Marlborough Te Tauihu-o-te-waka) – As Founder and CEO of Shit You Should Care About, Lucy Blakiston empowers millions of young people to engage critically with global issues and shape a more informed, compassionate world.

Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o Te Tau

• Alan and Hazel Kerr (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Dr Alan and Hazel Kerr turned retirement into a lifetime of service, saving the lives of nearly 800 children through two decades of volunteer medical missions to Palestine.
• Dame Claudia Orange (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Through decades of leadership, Dame Claudia Orange has transformed New Zealanders’ understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring that truth, respect, and historical knowledge continue to guide our national identity and relationships today.
• Stewart Bull (Southland Murihiku) – Stewart Bull’s (Ngāi Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Waitaha) unwavering commitment to kaitiakitanga and conservation is shaping a sustainable future for Aotearoa, safeguarding its natural heritage for generations to come.

2degrees New Zealand Innovator of the Year Te Pou Whakairo o Te Tau

• Craig Piggott (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Through his leadership at Halter, Craig Piggott’s vision is positioning Aotearoa New Zealand at the forefront of global agritech innovation, advancing solutions that benefit farmers, animals, and the environment. 
• James Hayes (Canterbury Waitaha) – As Founder of Virtual Medical Coaching, James Hayes is revolutionising medical imaging and education, combining innovation and compassion to save lives worldwide.
• Jonathan Ring and Leatham Landon-Lane (Canterbury Waitaha) – As Co-Founders of Zincovery, Jonathan Ring and Leatham Landon-Lane are turning industrial waste into a cleaner, circular future through world-first zinc recycling technology.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau 

• Mike Casey (Otago Ōtākou) – As CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, Mike Casey (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa) is a driving force in Aotearoa New Zealand’s transformation towards sustainable energy, reshaping conversations on climate justice and electrification, and proving that green innovation is not only possible but profitable. 
• Russel and Teresa Trow (Southland Murihiku) – For more than 40 years, Russel and Teresa Trow (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) have led pioneering, community-driven conservation on Kundy Island, restoring taonga species and inspiring conservation efforts across Aotearoa.
• Valerie Marie Ngaoa Teraitua (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Through determined, community-driven leadership, Valerie Marie Ngaoa Teraitua has turned Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae into a national model of practical sustainability.

Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau

• Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod (Hawke’s Bay Te Matau-a-Māui) – From founding the world’s first Māori language festival to leading iwi-wide reo strategies, Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod is shaping the cultural future of Aotearoa with his work in work in reo revitalisation and marae restoration.
• Māhera Maihi (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Through her organisation Mā Te Huruhuru, Māhera Maihi (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Muriwhenua) is transforming lives and communities by championing a kaupapa of systemic change, equity, and compassion in tackling homelessness and poverty.
• Terri Middleton (West Coast Tai-o-Poutini) – Senior Constable Terri Middleton’s kaupapa of empowering youth and preventing harm has left an immeasurable impact, changing lives across generations and fortifying the strength and safety of her community.

Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

• Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay (Hawke’s Bay Te Matau-a-Māui) – For nearly 70 years, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay has led the way in inclusive care – empowering people with intellectual disabilities through education, employment, and community connection.
• Rei Kōtuku Charitable Trust – Children’s Palliative Care Service (Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara) – Rei Kōtuku is a remarkable charitable trust, providing compassionate, culturally grounded paediatric palliative care and bereavement support to families walking through the darkest hours of loss.
• Safeguarding Children Initiative (Nelson Whakatū) – The Safeguarding Children Initiative is reshaping our national response to child abuse and neglect, uniting over 85,000 advocates in a shared commitment to protect tamariki and rangatahi.

Earlier this year, New Zealanders were invited to nominate those whose mahi is shaping a stronger, fairer, and more connected Aotearoa. Thousands of nominations were carefully reviewed by an independent and diverse judging panel, with 10 Semi-Finalists selected in each category.The Executive Judging Panel then undertook had the challenging impossible job to whittle down the Semi-Finalists to just three Finalists in each Award. Winners will be revealed at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala on Thursday 19 March 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. 

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