Sam Johnson
Young New Zealander of the Year
2012
University of Canterbury
Young New Zealander of the Year
Te Mātātahi o te Tau
Sam Johnson
Sam Johnson is a visionary social entrepreneur from Christchurch, New Zealand, best known for founding the Student Volunteer Army (SVA), which mobilized 11,000 students to aid in the Christchurch earthquake recovery and evolved into a nationwide volunteering movement. His innovative approach to community resilience through volunteering has inspired global models of action and impact.
A recipient of accolades including Young New Zealander of the Year and a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award, Sam’s work emphasizes authentic connection and collective action over bureaucracy. Under his leadership, the SVA has grown to include 3,000 tertiary members and 29,000 primary school participants across 976 schools.
Sam’s entrepreneurial ventures, including WeVisit and a social enterprise addressing social isolation, focus on reimagining care and fostering intergenerational connections. As a member of key advisory boards, Sam continues to drive innovative solutions for building stronger, more empathetic communities.
The leaders of tomorrow, brimming with the potential to build a bright future for Aotearoa. These people strive to improve themselves, their communities, and their nation.
Nominees of this Award must:
- Be aged between 15-30 years, at the open of nominations on 24 July 2024.
- Have had significant positive impact over the past 12 months.
- Be a role model for young New Zealanders and highlight that change is possible at any age.
- Meet the 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 2025 University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau. - 10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from this person’s work, contribution, or influence – and how? - 10 points: LEADERSHIP:
How does this person set a positive example for other young people and showing them the potential for change. - 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 area of influence? How has this been measured? - 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
If known, how does the nominee 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?
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