Category Judging

Meet the Category Judges behind the machine. Our seven Category Judging Panels are made up of some of the brightest minds from a number of fields, offering expertise within their categories. They’re tasked with the job of whittling down the hundreds of nominees to just 10 Semi-Finalists that are representative of the best of the best within the category to go forward for Executive Judging.

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa

Category Judges

• Louise Aitken, Head Judge, Director, Thriving World
• Arihia Bennett MNZM, CEO, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
• David Downs, Consultant, 2020 Semi-Finalist
• Joanna Norris, Chief Content Officer, Stuff NZ

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

Category Judges

• David Cameron, Head Judge, Young New Zealander of the Year 2018, Founder, CEO, LearnCoach
• Anna Guenther, Co-Founder, Pledge Me
• Georgia Devereux, Co-Founder, The Social Club
• Jamie Fenton, Young New Zealander of the Year 2011

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

Category Judges

• Tā Kim Workman (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), KNZM, QSO, Head Judge, Senior New Zealander of the Year 2018
• Hon Margaret Austin
• Mark Benjamin, CEO, Standards and Monitoring Services
• Stephanie Clare, Chief Executive, Age Concern NZ

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

Category Judges

• Rachel Taulelei, Head Judge, Co-Founder, Oho
• Alexia Hilbertidou, Founder, CEO, GirlBoss New Zealand
• Kent Gardner, CEO, Evans Randall Investors
• Sonya Williams, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, Sharesies

Department of Conservation and Ministry for the Environment New Zealand Environmental Hero of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau

Category Judges

• Dr James Renwick, Head Judge, Climate Scientist and Professor of Physical Geography
• Brent Beaven, Director, Predator Free 2020, DOC
• Louise Nash, Founder, CEO, Circularity and XLabs
• Tania Gerrard, General Manager, Māori and Stakeholder Relations

Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Poi Whirinaki o te Tau

Category Judges

• Rakesh Naidoo, Head Judge, Superintendent, National Partnerships Manager – Ethnic
• Cyril Howard (Ngāpuhi), Regional Manager, The Tindall Foundation
• Cr Desley Simpson, JP, Councillor for Auckland, Orakei Ward
• Tracey Wakefield, Manager, Restorative Justice Services Ōtautahi Christchurch

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

Category Judges

• Michelle Kitney, Head Judge, CEO, Volunteering New Zealand
• Dellwyn Stuart, CEO, YWCA Auckland
• Jean Te Huia, Chief Executive Officer, Nga Maia Māori Midwives Aotearoa
• Nick Loosley, Local Hero of the Year 2020, Founder, Everybody Eats