Māhera Maihi
New Zealand Local Hero of the Year
2026
Tower
New Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Te Pou Toko o te Tau
Māhera Maihi
Māhera Maihi (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Muriwhenua) is a transformative Māori leader dedicated to disrupting the cycles of poverty and youth homelessness in Aotearoa. As the Founder and Chief Executive of Mā Te Huruhuru, she established the first kaupapa Māori youth transitional housing initiative in Aotearoa based on tupuna knowledge, creating a national blueprint for services grounded in dignity, manaaki, and community.
Her impact continues to grow. Māhera has opened a five-bedroom housing complex in Ihumātao with Kainga Mārie and members of the Te Ahi Waru hapū, adding to the 18-bedroom complex in Ōtāhuhu that provides safe, stable accommodation and wraparound support for taitamariki experiencing homelessness. She is now preparing to launch a kaupapa Māori youth street outreach programme to reach those disconnected from traditional services, ensuring that safety, care, and opportunity remain within reach for all taitamariki. Māhera’s leadership is bold, courageous, and innovative, reshaping futures and strengthening communities across Tāmaki.
This award acknowledges those whose actions have had a significant and lasting impact in their communities. These quiet champions don’t wait for change – they create it. With conviction, care, and follow-through, our Local Hero recipients reflect the Aotearoa we all want to live in.
Nominees of this Award must:
- Be an individual, duo or whānau/family who has made (or is making) a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest), iwi, or local group.
- Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
- Be a role model for New Zealanders and highlight selflessness for their community.
- Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
- 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the person (or people) you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau. - 10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from their work, contribution, or influence – and how? - 10 points: LEADERSHIP:
How do they set a positive example for other members of their local community? - 10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing). What have they done that has gone above and beyond to show leadership, create change, and give back? - 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
How have they clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their local community? (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest).
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How do the New Zealand Local Hero Awards work?
- All Local Hero nominations are divided up into their regions across Aotearoa.
- Nominations for each region are then sent on to the panel Local Hero Judges for that area, for their consideration – who score the nominees based on the criteria above.
- The top 100 (highest scoring) Local Hero nominees across New Zealand will be honoured as the Local Hero Medallists.
- The 100 Local Hero Medallists will also go forward into the next round of Awards judging, to be considered for the national title of New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau. The 10 semi-finalists for this national title will be announced in December, the top three finalists in February, and the ultimate winner will be revealed at our Awards Gala in March.
2026
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