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 ONZMNew Zealander of the Year
Namulau‘ulu Nu’uali’i Eteroa LafaeleYoung New Zealander of the Year
Elizabeth Ellis CNZM JPSenior New Zealander of the Year
Emma LewishamNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Lake Alice Survivors and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights New ZealandNew Zealand Community of the Year
Subash Chandar KNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Deborah Manning ONZMNew Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year
Dr Jim Salinger CRSNZNew Zealander of the Year
Simran KaurYoung New Zealander of the Year
Bob Francis CNZM QSO MBE JPSenior New Zealander of the Year
Cecilia RobinsonNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Cyclone Gabrielle VolunteersNew Zealand Community of the Year
Sally Walker ONZMNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Nicola MacDonald MNZMNew Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year
Wayne SmithNew Zealand Legacy Award
Professor Rangi Mātāmua ONZMNew Zealander of the Year
Shaneel LalYoung New Zealander of the Year
Sir Mark Dunajtschik KNZMSenior New Zealander of the Year
Emily BlytheNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Kindness CollectiveNew Zealand Community of the Year
Dr Ellen Joan Ford (nee Nelson)New Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Camden HowittNew Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year
Tā Tipene O′ReganNew Zealander of the Year
Ezra HirawaniYoung New Zealander of the Year
Rereata MākihaSenior New Zealander of the Year
Mark Sagar PhD FRSNZNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Matakaoa CommunityNew Zealand Community of the Year
Dave LeteleNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Charmaine BailieNew Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year
Dr Siouxsie Wiles MNZMNew Zealander of the Year
Jazz ThorntonYoung New Zealander of the Year
Dr Doug Wilson MNZMSenior New Zealander of the Year
Ranjna Patel ONZM QSM JPNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Christchurch Mosque Victims GroupNew Zealand Community of the Year
Shannon Te HuiaNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-LealandNew Zealander of the Year
Georgia HaleYoung New Zealander of the Year
Dame Margaret Sparrow DNZM MBESenior New Zealander of the Year
Bill Buckley − Buckley Systems LtdNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Good Bitches BakingNew Zealand Community of the Year
Nick LoosleyNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Mike KingNew Zealander of the Year
Kendall FluteyYoung New Zealander of the Year
Dr Bill GlassSenior New Zealander of the Year
Ian Taylor − Animation Research LtdNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
PillarsNew Zealand Community of the Year
Pera BarrettNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Kristine Bartlett CNZMNew Zealander of the Year
David CameronYoung New Zealander of the Year
Sir Kim Workman KNZM QSOSenior New Zealander of the Year
Team New Zealand Design TeamNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Canterbury Charity Hospital TrustNew Zealand Community of the Year
Ricky HoughtonNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Taika Waititi ONZMNew Zealander of the Year
Rez GardiYoung New Zealander of the Year
Sue Paterson ONZMSenior New Zealander of the Year
Professor Ed GaneNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Randwick ParkNew Zealand Community of the Year
Hayden SmithNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Richie McCaw ONZNew Zealander of the Year
Lydia KoYoung New Zealander of the Year
John RussellSenior New Zealander of the Year
HYVAN Anaesthesia LtdNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Community Fruit HarvestingNew Zealand Community of the Year
Selwyn CookNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Sir Stephen Tindall GNZMNew Zealander of the Year
Guy RyanYoung New Zealander of the Year
Donald Sew HoySenior New Zealander of the Year
Peter BeckNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
PaihiaNew Zealand Community of the Year
Billie JordanNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Dr Lance O′SullivanNew Zealander of the Year
Parris GoebelYoung New Zealander of the Year
Frances Denz MNZMSenior New Zealander of the Year
Dr Sean SimpsonNew Zealand Innovator of the Year
Victim SupportNew Zealand Community of the Year
Cecilia Sullivan-Grant MNZMNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Dame Anne Salmond ONZ DBE FRSNZNew Zealander of the Year
Sam JuddYoung New Zealander of the Year
Ian GrantSenior New Zealander of the Year
Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenNew Zealand Community of the Year
Jim MorungaNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Sir Richard Taylor KNZMNew Zealander of the Year
Sam JohnsonYoung New Zealander of the Year
Malcolm CameronSenior New Zealander of the Year
PaeroaNew Zealand Community of the Year
Henare O’KeefeNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Sir Paul Callaghan GNZM FRS FRSNZNew Zealander of the Year
Jamie FentonYoung New Zealander of the Year
​Alison NeillSenior New Zealander of the Year
Gibbston CommunityNew Zealand Community of the Year
Billy Graham MNZMNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
Divya DharYoung New Zealander of the Year
Sir Eion Edgar KNZMSenior New Zealander of the Year
Victory VillageNew Zealand Community of the Year
Sam ChapmanNew Zealand Local Hero of the Year
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