Nominations for the 2027 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa open today.

“You tell us” is the call going out across the motu.

Now’s the moment to put forward the New Zealanders whose contributions are changing Aotearoa for the better, the awards’ organisers said in a media statement.

Te Koruru patron of the awards, Miriama Kamo, said the awards belong to everyone with a story to tell.

“Every year I’m reminded that the people who deserve recognition are rarely the ones putting their own hand up. That’s why Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa exists – so the rest of us can do it for them,” Kamo said.

“Whether it’s a nomination for the person who runs the local food bank or the young innovator solving a problem no one else has cracked, we want to hear it. Nominating takes minutes, but the recognition can change a life.”

Kiwibank had supported the awards for 16 years.

Kiwibank chief executive Steve Jurkovich said: “Across Aotearoa there are Kiwis making a difference every day, often without any expectation of recognition. We are proud to support these awards and to help shine a light on the individuals, teams and communities whose actions are helping make New Zealand better.

“We all know someone whose impact deserves to be celebrated. This is the chance to acknowledge their contribution and share their story with the rest of the country, and we encourage Kiwis to nominate someone whose mahi is making a difference.”

Nominations will be evaluated by regional and national judging panels, including some of Aotearoa’s most respected thinkers, sector leaders and industry experts, the statement said.

Once nominations close, entries move through two rounds of independent judging – regional and category panels first select semi-finalists, before an executive judging panel, chaired by Simon Moore, selects the finalists and winners in each category.

Nominations can be made in one or more of the seven awards by any member of the public aged 15 and over, until midnight on Tuesday, August 18 at nzawards.org.nz

Award categories for individuals:

- Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa

- Go Media Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau

- Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau

- Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau

- 2degrees New Zealand Innovator of the Year Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau

- New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau

Award categories for groups:

- Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

Semi-finalists for the seven award categories will be announced in December.

The top three finalists in each award will be announced in March 2027.

The winners will be announced in April 2027 at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.