Dr Ellen Joan Ford (nee Nelson)

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

2023

Dr Ellen Ford, 2023 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Tower

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Te Pou Toko o te Tau

Tower

Dr Ellen Joan Ford (nee Nelson)

Dr Ellen Joan Ford (nee Nelson) used all her networks (team mates, Chris Parsons and Martin Dransfield, several interpreter friends, and many more supporters) and knowledge to bring 563 Afghan evacuees to live safely in New Zealand. A former captain in the New Zealand Army, she served with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan province; she never forgot the local people she worked with and they never forgot her. When the Taliban seized the country in 2021, those people that had supported the New Zealand Army became immediate targets. More than 40 of her former colleagues reached out to her, seeking assistance. It was the middle of a global pandemic and there was no Government representative on the ground. From her home in rural Manawatu, her and her team worked remotely, day and night, for almost a year, to help make emergency visa applications, lobby the Government, garner media attention, raise several hundred thousand dollars from generous New Zealanders, collaborate with government officials, distribute funds and travel documents, and facilitate border crossings. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta set up a government task force to evacuate these vulnerable families and agreed to work alongside Ellen and her team. All 563 people on Ellen′s team′s list, which included the wives and children, have now been successfully evacuated to New Zealand.

This award acknowledges those whose actions have had a significant and lasting impact in their communities. These quiet champions don’t wait for change – they create it. With conviction, care, and follow-through, our Local Hero recipients reflect the Aotearoa we all want to live in.


Nominees of this Award must:

  • Be an individual who has made (or is making) a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest), iwi, or local group.
  • Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
  • Be a role model for New Zealanders and highlight selflessness for their community.
  • Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

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 over the past year to nominate them as New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau.
  • 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 members of their local community?
  • 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: PROVEN IMPACT:
    How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their local community? (be it geographical community, or community of specific interest).

Conditions of Entry

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How do the New Zealand Local Hero Awards work?

  1. All Local Hero nominations are divided up into their regions across Aotearoa.
  2. Nominations for each region are then sent on to the panel Local Hero Judges for that area, for their consideration – who score the nominees based on the criteria above.
  3. The top 100 (highest scoring) Local Hero nominees across New Zealand will be honoured as the Local Hero Medallists.
  4. The 100 Local Hero Medallists will also go forward into the next round of Awards judging, to be considered for the national title of New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau. The 10 semi-finalists for this national title will be announced in December, the top three finalists in February, and the ultimate winner will be revealed at our Awards Gala in March.

2025

Finalists

Kahira-Rata Olley MNZM

Bay of Plenty Te Moana a Toi


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Subash Chandar K

Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau


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Tāme Iti

Bay of Plenty Te Moana a Toi


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Previous

winners

2025 Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Finalist Subash Chandar K

Subash Chandar K

2025

Sally Walker, 2024 Local Hero of the Year

Sally Walker ONZM

2024

Dr Ellen Ford, 2023 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Dr Ellen Joan Ford (nee Nelson)

2023

Dave Letele, 2022 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Dave Letele

2022

Shannon Te Huia

2021

Nick Loosley, 2020 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Nick Loosley

2020

Pera Barrett

2019

Ricky Houghton

2018

Hayden Smith

2017

Selwyn Cook

2016

Billie Jordan

2015

Cecilia Sullivan-Grant MNZM

2014

Jim Morunga, 2013 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Jim Morunga

2013

Henare O'Keefe, 2012 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Henare O’Keefe

2012

Billy Graham, 2011 New Zealander of the Year

Billy Graham MNZM

2011

Sam Chapman, 2010 Local Hero of the Year

Sam Chapman

2010

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