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Award Criteria

New Zealander of the Year

Our most prestigious honour. This award celebrates a New Zealander whose leadership is driving progress for Aotearoa – someone whose actions earn the trust of communities and inspire a sense of possibility across the motu. Their impact is lasting and profound.


Nominees of this Award must:

    • Be an individual that – through their achievements – has made an outstanding contribution to our country.
    • Have had significant impact on Aotearoa, particularly over the last 12 months.
    • Be a role model for New Zealanders.
    • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

  • 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
    Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you, particularly over the past 12 months, to nominate them as the New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa.
  • 10 points: PURPOSE:
    Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person – and how?
  • 10 points: LEADERSHIP:
    How does this person set a positive example for other fellow New Zealanders.
  • 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: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING:
    How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this person’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?
  • 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
    How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How is has this been measured?
  • 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
    If known, how does this person plan to grow and/or adapt their work, contribution, or influence in the future? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?

Conditions of Entry

Award Criteria

Young New Zealander of the Year

Recognising young leaders aged 15 to 30 whose ideas, energy, and commitment are transforming Aotearoa. These are the rangatahi challenging the status quo, lifting up others, and laying the groundwork for a more connected, inclusive, and ambitious future.


Nominees of this Award must:

  • Be aged between 15-30 years, at the open of nominations in July.
  • Have had significant positive impact over the past 12 months.
  • Be a role model for young New Zealanders and highlight that change is possible at any age.
  • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

  • 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION
    Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as the Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau.
  • 10 points: PURPOSE:
    Who benefits from this person’s work, contribution, or influence – and how?
  • 10 points: LEADERSHIP:
    How does this person set a positive example for other young people and showing them the potential for change.
  • 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 has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How has this been measured?
  • 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
    If known, how does the nominee plan to grow and/or adapt their work, contribution, or influence in the future? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?

 

Conditions of Entry

Award Criteria

Senior New Zealander of the Year

This award honours New Zealanders aged 70+ who continue to shape Aotearoa through wisdom, action, and care. Far from winding down, they are still building legacies – using their experience to lead, serve, and make lasting impact.


Nominees of this Award must:

  • Be over the age of 70, at the open of nominations in July.
  • Have had significant impact in their senior years.
  • Be a role model for New Zealanders and highlight that change is possible at any age.
  • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

  • 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
    Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done later in life to inspire you to nominate them as the Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
  • 10 points: PURPOSE:
    Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person – and how?
  • 10 points: LEADERSHIP & SERVICE:
    How does this person set a positive example of being a senior member of the community – showing potential for making change at any age.
  • 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 following their career, achievements, or service to create change and give back?
  • 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
    How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence, particularly during their senior years? How has this been measured?
  • 10 points: LEGACY
    How would winning this award impact this person’s legacy and their mahi (past or present)?

 

Conditions of Entry

Award Criteria

New Zealand Innovator of the Year

For those turning bold ideas into real-world impact. These innovators lead with courage and creativity, pushing boundaries in science, tech, culture or social change. Their mahi moves Aotearoa forward – and opens doors for those coming next.


Nominees of this Award must:

  • Be an individual who conceptualised and developed an innovation involving a product, service, technology, idea/theory or process across any industry sector including (but not limited to) health, science, technology, robotics, business, education, environmental, sustainability, agriculture, disadvantaged communities, and non-profits.
  • Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
  • Be a role model for New Zealanders and highlight a brighter future for New Zealanders.
  • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

  • 10 points: INNOVATION:
    Describe the innovation of your nominee and the thoughtful, creative, and innovative approach it takes to resolve a challenge.
  • 10 points: NEED:
    What problem does the innovation solve? And how is it unique to the market?
  • 10 points: COMMITMENT:
    Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to develop the innovation to this point (this may still be ongoing).
  • 10 points: PROVEN-IMPACT:
    How has the innovation clearly demonstrated a positive impact on the targeted community (particularly over the last 12-months)? How has this been measured?
  • 10 points: POTENTIAL:
    Describe the opportunity the innovation has to generate economic, social, and/or environmental benefits for a local industry sector, the nation, and or globally.
  • 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
    How is the nominee planning to enhance, grow, and/or adapt the innovation in the future to best meet the changing needs of the targeted population? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?

 

Conditions of Entry

Award Criteria

New Zealand Community of the Year

Recognising communities achieving powerful collective impact. Through connection, resilience and shared purpose, these groups are proving that change is possible when people come together to do good.


Nominees of this Award must:

  • Be more than one person (duo, group, community or organisation) who has made – or is making – a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community (be it geographical, or interest specific), iwi, or local group. In any sector including (but not limited to) business, leadership, culture, voluntary work, disaster relief, environmental work, health, education, sporting clubs, or working with the disadvantaged.
  • Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
  • Be role models for New Zealanders and highlight collective action toward positive change.
  • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

  • 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
    Describe the community, group or duo you are nominating and the work that they do (particularly over the past 12-months) that has inspired you to nominate them as the New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau.
  • 10 points: PURPOSE:
    Who benefits from the work of this community, and how?
  • 10 points: COMMITMENT:
    Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing).
  • 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
    How has this community clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How has this been measured?
  • 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
    If applicable, how would the nominee/s enhance, grow, and/or adapt their approach in the future to best meet the changing needs of their community? How would winning this award impact this group and the work that they are doing?
  • 10 points: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING:
    How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this community’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?

Conditions of Entry

Award Criteria

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

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 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 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 the work, contribution, or influence of this person – and how?
  • 10 points: LEADERSHIP:
    How does this person 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 has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their local community? (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest).

Conditions of Entry

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How do the New Zealand Local Hero Awards work?

  1. All Local Hero nominations are divided up into their regions across Aotearoa.
  2. 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.
  3. The top 100 (highest scoring) Local Hero nominees across New Zealand will be honoured as the Local Hero Medallists.
  4. 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.

Award Criteria

New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year

Celebrating those restoring and protecting the natural world. These leaders are creating a more sustainable Aotearoa through action, innovation, and deep commitment to the environment – forging a future that honours both people and planet.


Nominees for this Award must:

  • Demonstrate tangible actions, with proven impact, towards global sustainability goals focused on environment – including (but not limited to) climate change, air and water pollution, water scarcity, food insecurity, deforestation, rising sea levels, loss of species and habitat biodiversity, or loss of indigenous environmental knowledge and traditions.
  • Show significant impact within the past year.
  • Serve as role models fellow New Zealanders (and beyond) – inspiring a sustainable and thriving future for Aotearoa.
  • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

  • 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
    Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as the New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau.
  • 10 points: PURPOSE
    How does the planet benefit from the mahi, contribution, or influence of this person – and how?
  • 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, creativity/innovation, and create change?
  • 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT
    How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive contribution, with proven impact, towards sustainability (particularly over the last 12 -months)? How has this been measured?
  • 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT
    If known, how does the nominee plan to grow and/or adapt their work, contribution, or influence in the future? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?

 

Conditions of Entry

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office@nzawards.org.nz
media@nzawards.org.nz

PO Box 1158
Christchurch 8140 New Zealand

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