About
About the Awards Programme
The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa honour those who use their passion to make our country a better place. The awards recognise a diverse range of Kiwis making a difference. Whether they’re aged 15 or 100, they’re contributing to grassroots communities or putting New Zealand on the world stage, they inspire us all.
Any member of the public can nominate an individual or community organisation in the Awards programme. Nominations for the 2023 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa open on 27 July and close on 31 August. Kiwibank Local Hero Medal recipients are awarded throughout the month of December. All other category semi-finalists are announced January 2023, with finalists announced March 2023. The winners will be announced on 30 March at the New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala.
Nominations can be made in one or more of the seven award categories:
- Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa
- University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau
- Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātapuputu o te Tau
- Spark New Zealand Innovator of the Year Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau
- Ministry for the Environment New Zealand Environmental Hero of the Year Te Toa Taiai o te Tau
- Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau
- Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau
Each category will have one award winner selected from three finalists. All New Zealand citizens 15 years of age and over are eligible to be nominated for the Awards.
The regional and national judging panel includes representatives comprising of the awards sponsors, community leaders and independent experts.
An official Awards Gala Presentation Dinner will be held on 30 March 2023 in Auckland where nominees, semi-finalists and finalists will be formally recognised. Tickets and advance bookings for this public event will be available from mid-December 2022.
Our media partner is TVNZ. Together with their support, all New Zealanders have the opportunity to nominate someone in their local region.
The Te Koruru Patron's Message
“I’m honoured to take on the role of Te Koruru Patron of the Awards. The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa allow us all to acknowledge and celebrate those who act as ‘pou,’ as support and strength for whānau, for communities, for our country and beyond. These are people we know and those we discover; those special Kiwi whose passion and determination have seen them inspire, innovate, and work for the betterment of Aotearoa and its people. As an awards judge, I’ve been lucky to help acknowledge the achievements of our nominees and winners, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to continue doing this as Te Koruru Patron.”
Miriama Kamo
Te Koruru Patron of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards
Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa
