Meet our Judge Chair

This new role has been introduced to the Awards Programme to oversee a fair and transparent judging process – including reviewing due diligence, managing conflicts of interest and chairing the Executive Judging Day.

Image Credit: Dean Purcell for NZ Herald

Hon. Justice Simon Moore KC

The Hon. Justice Simon Moore graduated from Otago University with a BA (Hons) and LLB in 1980. He was admitted to the Bar in 1982, and three years later, he became a partner at Meredith Connell, a leading Auckland Crown Solicitors firm. In 1994, he was appointed Crown Solicitor for Auckland, a position he held for 20 years. During that time, he chaired the partnership and represented the Crown in many high-profile criminal trials.

In 2008, he was appointed King’s Counsel (KC), and six years later, in 2014, he was appointed to the High Court of New Zealand. As a Judge, Justice Moore has chaired several committees and managed the Criminal Lists for a number of years. He later took on the role of Civil List and Executive Judge of the Auckland High Court, a position he held until mid-2024. As a judge, one of his most notable cases was the trial of Jesse Kempson, who was convicted of the murder of Grace Millane.

Justice Moore is currently in the role of Chair of the Electoral Commission, after retiring from the Bench at the end of 2024.

He and his wife, Jane, have been married for 44 years. Together, they have three sons and five mokopuna.

Meet our 2025 Executive Judges

12 independent, respected New Zealanders that select the finalists and winners.

They offer diversity of industry, social and cultural, entrepreneurship, and innovation backgrounds, ensuring our prestigious Awards honour the extraordinary New Zealanders making Aotearoa a better place.

Executive Judges

• Sir Ashley Bloomfield KNZM —Interim Chief Executive, ESR – Science and Research
• Caren Rangi, ONZM —Interim Chief Executive – Cook Islands Development Agency of New Zealand (CIDANZ)
• Dan Te Whenua Walker — Senior Partner Development Manager for Global Partner Solutions, Microsoft, Deputy Chair, NZ Māori Tourism and Director,
  Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
• Geoff Ensor — Director, Red Hut Leadership Services and Former Department of Conservation Director of Commercial Partnerships
• Dame Professor Juliet Gerrard — Professor, University of Auckland, Former Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor
• Kendall Flutey — Co-Founder & CPO of Banqer
• Paddy Gower —Journalist
• Robyn Baker ONZM — Chair, NZ Teaching Council
• Robyn Scott-Vincent —Founder Attitude Pictures Ltd & com
• Steve Jurkovich —CEO, Kiwibank
• Theresa Gattung DNZM —Chair, Global Women
• Dame Valerie Adams DNZM —Athlete and Chair, World Athletics Athletes’ Commission

Meet our 2025 Category Judges

Our seven Category Judging Panels are made up of some of the brightest minds from a number of fields, offering expertise within their given 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 award category — to go forward for Executive Judging.

New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa

• Rachel Smalley MNZM (HEAD JUDGE), Journalist
• Arihia Bennett CNZM, National Commissioner South, Tamariki & Whanau Services, Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
• Jim Boult CNZM, Former Queenstown Lakes District Mayor
• Sir Graham Henry KNZM, Former All Blacks Coach

Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau

• Jamie Fenton (HEAD JUDGE) Senior Data Analyst at Health NZ and 2011 Young New Zealander of the Year
• Kauri Tearaura, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead, Department of Internal Affairs
• Shay Wright, Co Founder, Te Whare Hukahuka
• Simran Kaur, Founder, Girls That Invest and 2024 Young New Zealander of the Year
• Stephanie Benseman, Head of Portfolio Services Icehouse Ventures

Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau

• Meng Foon (HEAD JUDGE), Former Race Relations Commissioner
• Dame Diana Crosson, Former Retirement Commissioner
• Karen Billing-Jensen, Chief Executive Age Concern New Zealand
• Bob Francis, 2024 Senior NZ’er of the Year

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

• Sonya Williams (HEAD JUDGE), Co-Founder and CEO, Sharesies
• Rachel Taulelei, Co-Founder, Oho
• Olivia Blaylock, The Icehouse, Chief Executive Officer
• Paul Atkins, Chief Executive at the Royal Society Te Apārangi
• Dr Mark Sagar, New Zealand Innovator of the Year 2022
• Andrew Clews, Head of HealthTech Whare – Callaghan Innovation

New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau

• Brent Beaven (HEAD JUDGE), Director, Predator Free 2050, DOC
• Brianne West, Founder & CEO of Incrediballs 
• Prof. Bronwyn Hayward MNZM, Professor of Political Science at UC
• Mark Fenwick, Marine Ecologist, NIWA
• Annabell Chartres, Sustainability, Climate & Nature Leader at PwC New Zealand

New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

• Sam Johnson (HEAD JUDGE), Founder of Student Volunteer Army & Director of Projects at STILL
• Alexis LewGor MNZM, Prev Chairman Rotorua Multicultural Council/Chair Person Pasifika Community Rotorua
• Dr Jason Tuhoe, General Practitioner, Chair of Te Akoranga a Māui
• Leighton Evans, Chief Executive, Rātā Foundation
• Ezekiel Raui, Head of Foundation One New Zealand
• Sharon Brettkelly, Journalist

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

• Rachel Māia (HEAD JUDGE), New Zealand Para climber
• Dr Ranjna Patel ONZM QSM, Founder of the Gandhi Nivas and 2021 Innovator of the Year
• Sarah Page, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Kindness Collective Foundation
• Mark Crysell, Journalist

Meet our 2025 Local Hero Regional Judges

Each regional panel is made up of Regional Judges from a variety of backgrounds – media, corporate and local government. We seek those community-minded people with their fingers on the pulse of who is creating real, tangible impact within their region. They’re entrusted with determining our Top 100 Local Hero Medallists’ who will go forward for Category Judging.

Local Hero Regional Judges

• Alf Filipaina, Manukau Ward Councillor, Auckland Council
• Anita Nandan, Kiwibank
• Anna Park, Councillor, Taupō District Council
• Anna Richardson, Former More FM Breakfast Show Host, Taranaki
• Anne Lovich, Kiwibank, Whangarei
• Brett Mercer, Kiwibank
• Carol Peters, Councillor, Whangārei District Council
• Celeste Donovan, Councillor for Coastal Ward, Christchurch City Council
• Damian Newell, Host, The Breeze, Dunedin
• Dr Nick Smith, Mayor of Nelson
• Hilary Muir, Host, The Breeze, Canterbury
• Ingrid Papau, Board member, Henderson-Massey Local Board
• Joel Brading, Kiwibank, Christchurch
• Josie Carter, Kiwibank
• Kate Brown, Kiwibank, Tauranga
• Ken Shirley, Councillor, Bay of Plenty Regional Council
• Ken Swan, More FM Breakfast Host, Taranaki
• Kenny Roache, Kiwibank, Wellington
• Kirsten Rowe, Kiwibank, Christchurch
• Kirstie Scott, Kiwibank, Dunedin
• Matai Smith, Station Manager, Tūranga FM
• Meg Mansell, Radio Host, The Edge
• Melissa Ruffel, Kiwibank
• Nathan Ryba, Kiwibank, Manawatu/Whanganui/Taranaki
• Neil Gillespie, Deputy Mayor, Central Otago District
• Nikki Brown, Kiwibank, Greater Napier-Hastings Area
• Nureddin Abdurahman, Councilor, Paekawakawa/Southern Ward, Wellington
• Paul Madgwick, Editor, The Greymouth Star
• Peter Tennent, QSO, JP, Taranaki
• Rachel Ward, Editor – Northern Advocate, NZME
• Raylene Abbott, Kiwibank, Greymouth
• Rehette Stoltz, Mayor, Gisborne
• Roy Pilott, Te Awamutu Editorial Director
• Scott Shannon, Councillor, Timaru District Council
• Serina De Silva, Kiwibank, Wellington
• Shane Henderson, Councillor, Auckland Council
• Tim Cadogan, Mayor, Central Otago District
• Tori Tokalau, Senior Reporter, Stuff
• Tui Shortland, Councillor & Chair, Northland Regional Council