Meet our 2023 winners
These New Zealanders are showing us a new way of doing things. In their own communities and across the nation, they're inspiring change. They're leading the way. And they're doing the mahi.
Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year winner
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Professor Rangi Mātāmua
In 2022, Professor Rangi Mātāmua became known as “the man behind Matariki” – appointed as chief advisor to the government on the Māori New Year.
Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year winner
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Dr Ellen Nelson
Working day and night to bring 563 Afghanis to the safety of New Zealand, Dr Ellen rallied a small team from her rural Manawatū home to save the lives of colleagues that had supported the New Zealand Army.
About the awards
The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards has six award categories and we sponsor two of them: the New Zealander of the Year Award and New Zealand Local Hero Award.
New Zealander of the Year
This award honours individuals who’ve made outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of our country. Their pursuit of excellence could be in the areas of science, business, the arts, cultural or community involvement, sport, education or health.
Inspiring, passionate, and hard-working – these are the people that make us proud to call New Zealand home.
New Zealand Local Hero of the Year
This award recognises local heroes who do extraordinary things in their local communities. They might be involved in business, leadership, voluntary work, community and environment groups, education, sporting clubs, working with the disadvantaged or they may have shown courage in overcoming a personal adversity.
We like to sing about these often-unsung heroes and thank them for the difference they make to their region, town, suburb, community or local group.
Previous New Zealander of the Year winners
Tā Tipene O'Regan: 2022 New Zealander of the Year
Tā Tipene O'Regan is known for his work in Ngāi Tahu’s Treaty Settlement, as an educator and as a public figure whose life has been dedicated to building an inclusive, bicultural nation.
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Dr Siouxsie Wiles: 2021 New Zealander of the Year
Dr Siouxsie Wiles is an award-winning scientist who has used her expert knowledge of microbiology to empower a lot of New Zealanders. Throughout COVID-19, Siouxsie joined forces with The Spinoff cartoonist Toby Morris to make the science of the pandemic clear and understandable. Their work has undoubtedly helped to save lives, and her leadership through uncertain times has been recognised around the world.
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Jennifer Ward-Lealand Te Atamira CNZM: 2020 New Zealander of the Year
Actress and te reo Māori me ngā tikanga advocate Jennifer Ward-Lealand Te Atamira has amassed an extraordinary body of work throughout her 40-year career as an actress and director, significantly raising the profile of the performing arts industry in New Zealand.
Mike King: 2019 New Zealander of the Year
Mental Health advocate Mike King is founder of the The Nutters Club and Key to Life Charitable Trust. On the I Am Hope tour, Mike delivered 70 talks to more than 20,000 school students across the country. Mike also leads Gumboot Friday, an initiative aimed at creating greater mental health awareness and raising money for free youth counselling.
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Kristine Bartlett: 2018 New Zealander of the Year
Rest home caregiver Kristine Bartlett is a reluctant hero. She doesn’t like being the centre of attention, but found herself thrust into the limelight when her landmark court battle won pay rises for about 55,000 of the health sector’s lowest-paid workers.
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More about inspirational Kiwi
Learn more about the journey of previous Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year nominees and winners who’ve achieved extraordinary things and made a positive difference to the lives of others.