Hayden Smith

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

2017

Tower

New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

Te Pou Toko o te Tau

Tower

Hayden Smith

Concerned about the trashed state of New Zealand’s marine environment, Hayden persuaded the then five Mayors of the greater Auckland region to sponsor him and for the past 20 years he has been cleaning up the shores around Waitemata Harbour.

Each year he has to raise funds for this work cleaning up our water with the self-formed SEA CLEANERS Trust. The Trust has been blessed with money from philanthropic Foundations and corporate organisations, who see the benefits of what Hayden and his team are doing and want to support him in his endeavours, to clean up 10 regions of New Zealand.

Hayden’s work has also attracted international support. He is the only recipient of the Clearwater Award outside of the USA for his work in engaging communities to help clean up the environment. SEA CLEANERS in partnership with Hawaiian Tourism Authority and Hawaiian Airlines run an annual youth ambassador programme, taking students from around the Pacific Rim, to Hawaii to help clean up and educate communities about the growing plastic pollution issues plaguing the Pacific shores.

He also gives talks to various local community organisations, sports clubs, elderly and teenagers of secondary schools around the regions that SEA CLEANERS is present, sharing his message for a healthier Ocean.

During a visit to Hawaii, Hayden decided to help clean up part of the Hawaiian coast and caught the attention of the US Navy stationed at Pearl Harbour. This year Hayden returned to Hawaii at the time of the RIMPAC Navy exercises and was instrumental in organising a joint clean-up project with the combined sailors of both the US and NZ Navies. The RNZN now runs a SEA CLEANERS training exercise for every recruit entering the Navy, as a part of their Basic Common Training. In 2019 when Hayden and his team hosted King Charles, following that event together with the King, they are looking at expanding the Navy recruit training programme into every Commonwealth Naval fleet.

Hayden was selected to be an Eisenhower Fellow in 2023, which has enabled Hayden and SEA CLEANERS mission to be promoted throughout the USA with a vision to develop a sustainable funding model, increased youth ambassador outreach, re-engagement with the US Navy and strengthen NZ/US indigenous relations.

Hayden is a young man who has achieved more than many in their life time and is a citizen that New Zealand should be proud of.

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

_________________________________________________________________________

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

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

Search