Award
Winners
The 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award Winners were announced at the Awards Gala March 2025.
In one unforgettable evening, we celebrated the eight people who have helped shape the last 12 months in New Zealand.
Their impact is already being felt. We can’t wait to see what the year will bring.
| Professor Bev Lawton ONZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| Namulau‘ulu Nu’uali’i Eteroa Lafaele | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Elizabeth Ellis CNZM JP | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Emma Lewisham | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Lake Alice Survivors and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights New Zealand | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Subash Chandar K | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Deborah Manning ONZM | New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year |
| Dr Jim Salinger CRSNZ | New Zealander of the Year |
| Simran Kaur | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Bob Francis CNZM QSO MBE JP | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Cecilia Robinson | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Cyclone Gabrielle Volunteers | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Sally Walker ONZM | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Nicola MacDonald MNZM | New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year |
| Wayne Smith | New Zealand Legacy Award |
| Professor Rangi Mātāmua ONZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| Shaneel Lal | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Sir Mark Dunajtschik KNZM | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Emily Blythe | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Kindness Collective | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Dr Ellen Joan Ford (nee Nelson) | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Camden Howitt | New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year |
| Tā Tipene O′Regan | New Zealander of the Year |
| Ezra Hirawani | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Rereata Mākiha | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Mark Sagar PhD FRSNZ | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Matakaoa Community | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Dave Letele | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Charmaine Bailie | New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year |
| Dr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| Jazz Thornton | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Dr Doug Wilson MNZM | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Ranjna Patel ONZM QSM JP | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Christchurch Mosque Victims Group | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Shannon Te Huia | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand | New Zealander of the Year |
| Georgia Hale | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Dame Margaret Sparrow DNZM MBE | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Bill Buckley − Buckley Systems Ltd | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Good Bitches Baking | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Nick Loosley | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Mike King | New Zealander of the Year |
| Kendall Flutey | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Dr Bill Glass | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Ian Taylor − Animation Research Ltd | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Pillars | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Pera Barrett | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Kristine Bartlett CNZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| David Cameron | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Sir Kim Workman KNZM QSO | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Team New Zealand Design Team | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Ricky Houghton | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Taika Waititi ONZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| Rez Gardi | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Sue Paterson ONZM | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Professor Ed Gane | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Randwick Park | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Hayden Smith | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Richie McCaw ONZ | New Zealander of the Year |
| Lydia Ko | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| John Russell | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| HYVAN Anaesthesia Ltd | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Community Fruit Harvesting | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Selwyn Cook | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Sir Stephen Tindall GNZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| Guy Ryan | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Donald Sew Hoy | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Peter Beck | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Paihia | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Billie Jordan | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Dr Lance O′Sullivan | New Zealander of the Year |
| Parris Goebel | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Frances Denz MNZM | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Dr Sean Simpson | New Zealand Innovator of the Year |
| Victim Support | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Cecilia Sullivan-Grant MNZM | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Dame Anne Salmond ONZ DBE FRSNZ | New Zealander of the Year |
| Sam Judd | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Ian Grant | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Grandparents Raising Grandchildren | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Jim Morunga | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Sir Richard Taylor KNZM | New Zealander of the Year |
| Sam Johnson | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Malcolm Cameron | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Paeroa | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Henare O’Keefe | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Sir Paul Callaghan GNZM FRS FRSNZ | New Zealander of the Year |
| Jamie Fenton | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Alison Neill | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Gibbston Community | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Billy Graham MNZM | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
| Divya Dhar | Young New Zealander of the Year |
| Sir Eion Edgar KNZM | Senior New Zealander of the Year |
| Victory Village | New Zealand Community of the Year |
| Sam Chapman | New Zealand Local Hero of the Year |
