Nominations for the 2027 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa open today – and this year, we want Aotearoa to lead the charge.

“You tell us” is the call going out across the motu. Now’s the moment to put forward the New Zealanders whose contributions are changing Aotearoa for the better.

Te Koruru Patron of the Awards, Miriama Kamo, says the Awards belong to everyone with a story to tell.

“Every year I’m reminded that the people who deserve recognition are rarely the ones putting their own hand up. That’s why Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa exists – so the rest of us can do it for them,” says Miriama. “Whether it’s a nomination for the person who runs the local food bank or the young innovator solving a problem no one else has cracked, we want to hear it. Nominating takes minutes, but the recognition can change a life.”

For 16 years, Kiwibank has proudly supported these Awards because they celebrate Kiwi making a positive difference.

Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich says, “Across Aotearoa there are Kiwi making a difference every day, often without any expectation of recognition. We are proud to support these Awards and to help shine a light on the individuals, teams and communities whose actions are helping make New Zealand better.

We all know someone whose impact deserves to be celebrated. This is the chance to acknowledge their contribution and share their story with the rest of the country, and we encourage Kiwi to nominate someone whose mahi is making a difference.”

Nominations will be evaluated by regional and national judging panels, including some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most respected thinkers, sector leaders and industry experts. Once nominations close, entries move through two rounds of independent judging – regional and category panels first select Semi-Finalists, before an Executive Judging Panel, chaired by Hon. Simon Moore, selects the Finalists and Winners in each category.

Nominations can be made in one or more of the seven Awards by any member of the public aged 15 and over, until midnight Tuesday 18 August 2026 at nzawards.org.nz.