Sarah Hirini ONZM

New Zealander of the Year

Finalist

Kiwibank

New Zealander of the Year

Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa

Sarah Hirini ONZM

Renowned rugby union player Sarah Hirini ONZM (Ngati Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) is a true inspiration in the world of rugby. In 2024 – after making an incredible comeback from injury – she played a pivotal role in securing gold for New Zealand at the Paris Olympics. Even before the Olympics, the current New Zealand Sevens captain already has an impressive list of accolades to her name – including Sevens World Champion in 2013 and 2018, three-time Olympic medallist (Gold Paris 2024, Gold Tokyo 2020, Silver Rio 2016) Commonwealth Games gold and bronze medallist and seven-time World Series winner.

Hirini’s game is characterised by her tireless work-ethic and dogged defence, and in 2019 she became the first female player to bring up 200 matches on the World Series. Beyond her athletic prowess, Sarah is an advocate for mental health, using her platform to promote wellbeing in sports. Off the field, she’s involved in initiatives and has founded the Hirini Rugby Academy that encourage young girls to participate in rugby, showcasing her commitment to the sport’s growth and inclusivity. With her impressive achievements and positive influence, Sarah is a national treasure.

The most prestigious national award in the Awards Programme, honouring people for their outstanding impact and contribution to our country. With unwavering dedication and a deep commitment, these remarkable people are those New Zealand is proud to call their own.

Nominees of this Award must:

Be an individual that – through their achievements – has made an outstanding contribution to our country.
Have had significant impact on Aotearoa, particularly over the last 12 months.
Be a role model for New Zealanders.
Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Award Criteria

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you, particularly over the past 12 months, to nominate them as the 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa.
10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from the work, contribution, or influence of this person – and how?
10 points: LEADERSHIP:
How does this person set a positive example for other fellow New Zealanders.
10 points: 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?
10 points: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING:
How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this person’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?
10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How is has this been measured?
10 points: 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?