Category Criteria

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2021 - Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa

The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award - Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa honours the achievements and contributions of an inspirational Kiwi who has made a big, positive contribution to our country this year. Their pursuit of excellence can be in any area; science, business, the arts, cultural or community involvement, te Ao Māori, sport, education, and health. Their achievements have positive effects on how we feel about our nation and ourselves.Previous winners of the New Zealander of the Year Award are: Jennifer (Te Atamira) Ward-Lealand (2020), Mike King (2019), Kristine Bartlett (2018), Taika Waititi (2017), Richie McCaw (2016), Sir Stephen Tindall (2015), Dr. Lance O’Sullivan (2014), Dame Anne Salmond (2013), Sir Richard Taylor (2012), Sir Paul Callaghan (2011) and Sir Ray Avery (2010)To be eligible for this award, the nominee must have, through their achievements, made an outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of Aotearoa, particularly across the last 12-months.Nominators should consider talking about the following areas in their nomination:

• THE NOMINEE: Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you to nominate them as Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year - Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa 2021.
• PURPOSE: Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person - and how?
• LEADERSHIP: How does this person set a positive example for other fellow New Zealanders and showing them the potential for change.
• 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?
• THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING: How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this person’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?
• PROVEN IMPACT: How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How is has this been measured?
• 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?

Nominees in this category also make ideal candidates to consider for a Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero - Te Pou Toko o te Tau Nomination also. Remember an individual can be nominated in one or more categories. ____

Trade Me New Zealand Innovator of the Year 2021 - Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau

The Trade Me New Zealander Innovation of the Year Award - Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau recognises a person or group who, in the spirit of Kiwi inventiveness and resourcefulness, has created a better New Zealand.To be eligible for this award, the nominee must have 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.Nominators should consider talking about the following areas in their nomination:

• INNOVATION: Describe the innovation of your nominee and the thoughtful, creative, and innovative approach it takes to resolve a challenge.
• NEED: What problem does the innovation solve? And how is it unique to the market?
• COMMITMENT: Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to develop the innovation to this point (this may still be ongoing).
• 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?
• 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.
• 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?

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Mitre 10 Community of the Year 2021 - Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

The Mitre 10 Community of the Year Award - Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau recognises a rōpū - group of people that together have made an outstanding difference to their community this year. They foster a strong sense of Kotahitanga – community spirit and their achievements enhance the social, economic, cultural, or environmental prosperity of their rohe - region making it stronger and more vibrant.To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be a regional or national community group, iwi, geographical region or collective of people - 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.Nominators should consider talking about the following areas in their nomination:

• THE COMMUNITY: Describe the community or group you are nominating and the work that they do (particularly over the past 12-months) that has inspired you to nominate them as Mitre 10 Community of the Year 2021 - Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau.
• PURPOSE: Who benefits from the work of this community, and how?
• COMMITMENT: Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing).
• PROVEN IMPACT: How has this community clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How is has this been measured?
• 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?
• THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING: How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this community’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?

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The University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year 2021 - Te Mātātahi o te Tau

The University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Award - Te Mātātahi o te Tau recognises a young person brimming with the potential to build a bright future for Aotearoa, striving across the last year to improve or support their whole community and Tai Ao.To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be aged between 15-30 years.Nominators should consider talking about the following areas in their nomination:

• THE NOMINEE: Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as The University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year 2021 - Te Mātātahi o te Tau.
• PURPOSE: Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person - and how?
• LEADERSHIP: How does this person set a positive example for other young people and showing them the potential for change.
• 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?
• PROVEN IMPACT: How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How has this been measured?
• 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?

Nominees in this category also make ideal candidates to consider for a Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero - Te Pou Toko o te Tau Nomination also. Remember an individual can be nominated in one or more categories.____

Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year 2021 - Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau

The Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Award - Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau recognises those who have made a positive contribution to our great nation later in their life. This award gives New Zealanders of all ages the opportunity to express their appreciation and admiration for the achievements of our Senior New Zealander’s.To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be aged over 70 years and continue to make a positive contribution in Aotearoa, following their career, to te Ao Māori, achievements or service (in any field). The nominee must be a role model to the wider community or iwi, particularly over the past 12-months.Nominators should consider talking about the following areas in their nomination:

• THE NOMINEE: Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done later in life to inspire you to nominate them as Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year 2021 - Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
• PURPOSE: Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person - and how?
• 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.
• 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?
• PROVEN IMPACT: How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How is has this been measured?
• LONG-TERM IMPACT: If known, how does the nominee plan to continue, grow, and/or adapt their work, contribution, or influence going forward? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?

Nominees in this category also make ideal candidates to consider for a Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero - Te Pou Toko o te Tau Nomination also. Remember an individual can be nominated in one or more categories.____

Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year 2021 - Te Pou Toko o te Tau

The Kiwibank Local Hero Award - Te Pou Toko o te Tau recognises everyday people doing extraordinary things in their local hapori - communities over the past year. This award acknowledges the enormous contribution, sacrifice, and commitment of Kiwi who have selflessly worked to make their local hapori a better place.To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be an individual who has made (or is making) a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community, iwi, or local group. The impact can be across any field or have displayed courage in overcoming personal adversity.Nominators should consider talking about the following areas in their nomination:

• THE NOMINEE: Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year 2021 - Te Pou Toko o te Tau.
• PURPOSE: Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person - and how?
• LEADERSHIP: How does this person set a positive example for other members of their local community?
• 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?
• PROVEN IMPACT: How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their local community

____ How do the Kiwibank Local Hero Awards work?

1. All Local Hero nominations are divided up into regions across Aotearoa
2. Nominations for each region are then sent on to the three Local Hero Judges for that region, for their consideration.
3. Nominations are scored by regional Local Hero judges based on the criteria above.
4. The top 10 (highest scoring) Local Hero nominees in each region will be honoured at a medal ceremony event in their region in November 2020 (16 events across the country)
5. The highest scoring Local Hero in each region will also be awarded the additional honour of being their region’s overall Local Hero (i.e. ‘Canterbury’s Local Hero’) in December 2020 and will become a semi-finalist in the Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero national award
6. Each of the region’s overall Local Hero (i.e. the semi-finalists in Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero) will be considered at the Executive Judging Day in late January. Three will be chosen as the finalists in the New Zealand Local Hero award, and of those three, one will be awarded the New Zealand Local Hero title at the Gala event in March 2021 in Auckland.