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

2023 Category Judges

• Louise Aitken, Head Judge, Sustainability and Climate Consultant
• 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

2023 Category Judges

• Jamie Fenton, Head Judge, Young New Zealander of the Year 2011
• Kauri Tearaura (Waikato) Diversity, Equity &  Inclusion Lead, Ministry for the Environment
• Shay Wright (Te Rarawa, Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Ruanui) Co Founder at Te Whare Hukahuka
• Nina Santos, Advocacy and Communications Manager YWCA

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

2023 Category Judges

• Meng Foon, Head Judge, Race Relations Commissioner of New Zealand
• Hon Margaret Austin CNZM CRSNZ,
• Karen Billing-Jensen, CEO, Age Concern

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

2023 Category Judges

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

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

2023 Category Judges

• Brent Beaven, Head Judge, Director, Predator Free 2020, DOC
• Prof Bronwyn Hayward MNZM, Professor, University of Canterbury, Director, The Sustainable Citizenship and Civic Imagination Research group
• Prof Kura Paul-Burke (Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Awa) Professor, Waikato University, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, Marine Science and Aquaculture
• Mark Fenwick (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Te Whiti, Ngāti Tawhirikura, Ngāti Ruanui), Marine Ecologist, NIWA

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

2023 Category Judges

• Sam Johnson, Head Judge, Former CEO and Founder, Student Volunteer Army, 2012 Young New Zealander of the Year
• Cyril Howard (Ngāpuhi), Regional Manager, The Tindall Foundation
• Alexis LewGor MNZM, Chairperson of the Rotorua Pacific Islands Development Charitable Trust

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

2023 Category Judges

• Dellwyn Stuart, CEO, YWCA Auckland
• Nick Loosley, 2020 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year, Founder, Everybody Eats
• Rachel Māia, NZ ParaClimber, Motivational Speaker
• Ranjna Patel ONZM QSM, 2021 New Zealand Innovator of the Year, Founder, Gandhi Nivas Family Violence Prevention Programme

Meet our Local Hero Regional Judges. Each region is made up of at least three 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.

NORTHLAND TE TAI TOKERAU REGIONAL JUDGES

• Carol Peters, Councillor, Whangārei District Council
• Rachel Ward, Editor, NZME 
• Tui Shortland. Councillor & Chair, Northland Regional Council
  
  

AUCKLAND TĀMAKI MAKAURAU JUDGES

• Alf Filipaina, Manukau Ward Councillor, Auckland Council
• Aroha Mane, News manager, Māori Television
• Carol McGrath, Head of Technology and Data Governance
  
• Darren Keane, Lead Engineer
  
• Melanie Earley, Auckland Reporter, Stuff
• Shane Henderson, Councillor, Auckland Council
• Ingrid Papau, Board member, Henderson-Massey Local Board
  
• Tori Tokalau, Senior Reporter, Stuff
• Tresa Berla Correya, Banking Specialist
  
  

WAIKATO JUDGES

• Anna Park, Councillor, Taupō District Council
• Deaan Marchioni,  SME Business Join Consultant
• Roy Pilott, Te Awamutu Editorial Director
  
  

BAY OF PLENTY TE MOANA-A-TOI JUDGES

• Amy Yang, Banking assistant
• Jodie Snooks, Group sales manager, Stuff
• Ken Shirley, Councillor, Bay of Plenty Regional Council
  
  

GISBORNE TAIRĀWHITI AND HAWKE’S BAY TE MATAU-A-MĀUI JUDGES

• Heather Bosselman, Napier Senior Policy Analyst, Napier Council
• Matai Smith, Station Manager, Tūranga FM
• Rehette Stoltz, Mayor, Gisborne

TARANAKI, MANAWATŪ AND WHANGANUI JUDGES

• Jayden Devonshire, Commercial Manager, Kiwibank Taranaki
• Judith Lacy, Editor, The Manawatū Guardian
• Peter Tennet, QSO, JP, Taranaki
• Pippa Kohlhase, Bank Manager, Hastings
  
  

WELLINGTON TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA JUDGES

• Georgina Campbell, Senior Journalist, Stuff
• Jonathan Howarth, Retail Credit Manager
• Nureddin Abdurahman, Councilor, Paekawakawa/Southern Ward
  
  

TASMAN TE TAI-O-AORERE, NELSON WHAKATŪ AND MARLBOROUGH TE TAUIHU-O-TE-WAKA JUDGES

• Jo Vavasour, Banking Specialist
  
• Pete Rainey, Councilor, Nelson
• Sarah Board, Media Editor, Top South
  
  

WEST COAST TAI-O-POUTINI JUDGES

• Debra Norton, Hub Manager, Kiwibank West Coast
• Paul Madgwick, Editor, The Greymouth Star
• Sarah Brown, Community Development Advisor, Westland District Council
  
  

CANTERBURY WAITAHA JUDGES

• Camille Hughes, Relationship Customer Onboarding Specialist
• Hilary Muir, Host, The Breeze
• Kerry Khokhar, Bank Manager
• Rachel Parkin, Reporter, Sevensharp
• Sarah Templeton, Councillor, Heathcote Ward
• Scott Shannon, Councilor, Mt Pleasant/Temuka Ward
  
  

OTAGO ŌTĀKOU AND SOUTHLAND MURIHIKU JUDGES

• Damian Newell, Host, The Breeze
  
• Neil Gillespie, Deputy Mayor, Central Otago District 
• Tim Cadogan, Mayor, Central Otago District