New Zealander of the Year Awards

The New Zealander of the Year Awards, currently known as the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, celebrate the achievements of New Zealanders. The awards are presented in Auckland in February each year, and were founded in 2010 by Australian Jeffrey John Hopp.^[1][2][3]

Categories in the awards include:^[4]

• New Zealander of the Year
• Young New Zealander of the Year
• Senior New Zealander of the Year
• Innovator of the Year
• Community of the Year
• Local Hero

2016 winners

• New Zealander of the Year: Richie McCaw^[5]
• Young New Zealander of the Year: Lydia Ko^[5]
• Senior New Zealander of the Year: John Russell (principal of Naenae College)^[5]
• Innovator of the Year: Hyvan Anaesthesia Ltd^[6]
• Community of the Year: Community Fruit Harvesting^[7]
• Local Hero of the Year: Selwyn Cook (business owner)^[5]

2015 winners

Paihia, Community of the Year 2015

• New Zealander of the Year: Sir Stephen Tindall^[8]
• Young New Zealander of the Year: Guy Ryan^[9]
• Senior New Zealander of the Year: Donald Sew Hoy^[10]
• Innovator of the Year: Peter Beck^[11]
• Community of the Year: Paihia^[12]
• Local Hero of the Year: Billie Jordan^[13]

2014 winners

Dr Lance O'Sullivan was chosen as the 2014 New Zealander of the Year. O'Sullivan was rewarded for his community work as a general practitioner in Northland. He was chosen over two other finalists, Dame Dr Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi and Catriona Williams.^[14]

2013 winners

• New Zealander of the Year: Dame Anne Salmond (cultural historian)
• Young New Zealander of the Year: Sam Judd (coastline advocate)^[15]
• Senior New Zealander of the Year: Ian Grant (good-parenting advocate)^[16]
• Community Group of the Year: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ^[17]
• Local Community Hero of the Year: Jim Morunga^[18]

2012 winners

Sir Richard Taylor, New Zealander of the Year 2012

Sir Richard Taylor, the owner of Weta Workshop, was chosen as the 2012 New Zealander of the Year. A close friend of Peter Jackson, he and his company created all of the props, costumes, prosthetics, miniatures and weaponry for Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.^[19]

2011 winners

Sir Paul Callaghan was chosen as the 2011 New Zealander of the Year. Sir Paul died the following year of bowel cancer.^[20]

2010 winners

• New Zealander of the Year: Ray Avery^[21]
• Young New Zealander of the Year: Divya Dhar^[21]
• Senior New Zealander of the Year: Sir Eion Edgar^[21]
• Community Group of the Year: Victory Village, Nelson^[21]
• Local Community Hero of the Year: Sam Chapman^[21]

References

1. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0909/S00276/ironic-start-up-to-new-zealander-of-the-year-award.htm
2. "About". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
3. "New Zealander of the Year - Kiwibank". www.kiwibank.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
4. "About the Awards Programme". NZAwards.org.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
5. Garrick, Moana Tapaleao, Gia (2016-02-17). "Richie McCaw named New Zealander of the year". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
6. "New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
7. "McCaw New Zealander of the Year". Stuff. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
8. "New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
9. "Young New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
10. "Senior New Zealander of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
11. "New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
12. "New Zealand Community of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
13. "New Zealand Local Hero". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
14. Laird, Lindy (28 February 2014). "Kaitaia health champion wins again". The Northern Advocate. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
15. "2013 Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
16. "2013 Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
17. "2013 Mitre 10 Community of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
18. "2013 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Winner". NZAwards.org.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
19. Daly, Michael; Anderson, Charles (17 February 2012). "Sir Richard Taylor named New Zealander of the Year". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
20. Donoghue, Tim; Cooke, Michelle (24 March 2012). "Sir Paul Callaghan dies". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
21. Gadd, David (4 February 2010). "From streetkid to New Zealander of the Year". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

External links

• New Zealander of the Year Awards official site