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Conditions

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  1. Individuals can’t nominate themselves; however, members of an organisation or community can submit nominations on their behalf within the New Zealand Community of the Year Award Category.
  2. Entry in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa is free.
  3. Nominees and nominators must be over the age of 15 at the close of nominations 24 August 2025.
  4. Nominees must be either a New Zealand citizen or have held a Permanent Residents Visa for a minimum period of five years at the time of the nomination.
  5. Nominees must have lived in New Zealand for at least two years prior to nomination. People currently residing outside temporarily due to work or study commitments are still eligible to be nominated. There may be occasions where Judges extend special dispensation to nominations of outstanding New Zealand citizens where the mahi that they are nominated for requires them to reside offshore and represent Aotearoa on the world’s stage. 
  6. Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa cannot be granted posthumously.
  7. Judges will consider nominees’ achievements and contributions over the calendar year, as well as their achievements and contributions over a longer period.
  8. Nominations are open from 24 July 2025 till midnight 24 August 2025 and may only be made using the official nomination form submitted online via https://nzawards.org.nz/nominate/
  9. Elected politicians will not be eligible for nomination. Any nominations for elected politicians will be removed by the Awards office prior to Judging.
  10. Public servants will not be recognised through these Awards for impact created through their paid employment. However they will be considered for impact created outside of their paid employment, or for having extraordinary impact through their paid employment, this is at the discretion of the Awards office and the Judges.
  11. Nominations for duos (couples, twins, business partners), groups, committees’ etc. will only be accepted in the New Zealand Community of the Year category. However, there may be occasions where Judges award special dispensation to duos to be recognised through the other Award categories.
  12. Unsuccessful nominees may re-nominate in subsequent years. Successful category winners can only win each category once.
  13. An individual may be nominated in more than one category if appropriate, but can only move through to be celebrated (as a Semi-Finalist/Finalist/Winner) in one category, with the exception of those nominated to the New Zealander of the Year award category.
  14. The Awards Office reserves the right to enter nominees into additional award categories or move nominees into alternative award categories, as deemed appropriate. Every effort will be made to inform nominators and nominees of this.
  15. It is permissible to contact the Awards Office for guidance and support during the compilation of a nomination.
  16. Unless previously arranged, all nomination information and material submitted remain the property of the Awards Office and will not be returned.
  17. Nominees will be encouraged to make themselves available without cost for publicity purposes as required prior to, and after, the Awards Gala Dinner.
  18. Nominators agree that they, any listed referees and the nominee(s) may be contacted by the Awards Office for further information and/or for publicity purposes.
  19. Those selected as Finalists should be available to attend the Awards Dinner in Auckland; on March 2026 (Inability to attend does not disqualify entry).
  20. There is no limit to the number of times that an individual can be nominated, but the number of nominations will not weigh on the judge’s decision.
  21. The Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  22. The Awards Office reserves the right to make reasonable amendments to these Conditions of Entry at any point in time.
  23. Individuals or groups cannot be recognised as Semi-Finalists for more than three years consecutively.
  24. The Awards Office may shortlist nominees prior to presenting nominees profiles to the judges for their consideration, if required.
  25. Active Judges in the Awards Programme are not permitted to submit direct nominations.
  26. The Awards Offices reserves the right to remove any nominees that may bring the Awards, or its partners, into disrepute.

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

PO Box 1158
Christchurch 8140 New Zealand

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