Nominations Now Open to Find Extraordinary New Zealanders

MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed – for release 5pm, 15 June 2013

Nominations Now Open to Find Extraordinary New Zealanders
New Award for Innovation

Nominations are now open for the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards 2014. Awarded for outstanding service, achievement and contribution to the nation, the awards celebrate excellence in New Zealand and gives every Kiwi the opportunity to identify an individual or community group who inspires them. Each overall winner receives a trophy and $5000 from Kiwibank.

The Awards are now in their 5th year and have become one of New Zealand’s most prestigious awards programmes with the Gala Dinner in February being one of the most illustrious on the social calendar. Past recipients include Sir Ray Avery, the late Sir Paul Callaghan, Sir Richard Taylor and, currently Dame Anne Salmond.

The Awards also acknowledge the work of volunteers and communities who make a real difference to New Zealand.

To mark the 5th year of the Awards, organisers have announced a new category - The Sanitarium Innovator of the Year. This award recognises individual Kiwis whose game changing discoveries, research or inventions are driving our country forward.

New Zealand has a long history of innovation whether in business, sport, medicine and this award will seek those Innovators out and reward them.

The Innovator of the Year Award is supported by Sanitarium. New Zealand General Manager Mr Pierre van Heerden says

“Innovation is the lifeblood of success in all our activities. The individuals whose ideas change the way we live our lives for the better are often unknown by the wider public. They deserve to be celebrated with this award. Sanitarium is also built on innovation and we are proud to support this award.”, says Mr van Heerden

New Zealanders can nominate an individual or a community organisation in one or more of the following six6 categories.

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year
Honouring the inspirational achievements of a remarkable person

Sanitarium Innovator of the Year
Recognising the individuals whose discovery, research or inventions are driving our country forward.

Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year
Recognising over 60s making a positive contribution to the nation

Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year
Role models aged between 15 and 30 who are inspiring young New Zealanders

Mitre 10 Community of the Year
Acknowledging groups and organisations working together to build better communities

Kiwibank Local Heroes
Rewarding everyday people doing extraordinary things in their communities. Up to 250 Kiwibank local Hero medals will be awarded in up to 15 regions in November and December . One national winner will be celebrated at the gala Awards dinner.

Nominations are open until Monday 30th September. Nomination forms are available online at www.nzawards.org.nz or from Kiwibank and Mitre 10 stores. Any NZ citizen 15 years of age and over can be nominated in one or more of the six award categories. The winners will be revealed at the gala National Awards dinner in February 2014.

Patron of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, former Prime Minister Mr Jim Bolger says “These awards highlight the extraordinary work and service of New Zealanders from all walks of life. From the humble volunteer to leaders in business, the arts and society in general. Ideal candidates are New Zealanders who have stepped up to make their communities, New Zealand and the world at large a better place. These Awards recognise, celebrate and, most importantly, encourage Kiwis to make a difference

Notable Recent Winners

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2013. Dame Anne Salmond

Author, academic and environmentalist, Dame Anne Salmond of Auckland has dedicated her academic career to documenting cultural exchanges in New Zealand to bring about a greater understanding of New Zealand’s history and how we can develop a strong multicultural society for our future generations..

Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year 2013. Ian Grant

Ian Grant has been a guru for many generations of young parents. In books, in media and in seminars he has dispensed valuable advice. He established The Parenting Place helping to set parents up with tools to enable them to better raise and relate to their children. Now The Parenting Place has 72 staff around the country, offering a wide range of services such as community events, short courses, magazine, family coaching, workshops and high school programmes

Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year 2012. Sam Johnson

After the first shocking Canterbury earthquake in September 2010, Sam rallied together thousands of students forming the Student Volunteer Army that then provided invaluable assistance after the devastating February quake in 2011. He has gone on to be a strong voice of leadership for youth both here and around the world.

The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards are proudly supported by media partners, Newstalk ZB and TV3.

For information or assistance in submitting a nomination:

Call toll free: 0508 692 927
Email: info@nzawards.org.nz
www.nzawards.org.nz

ENDS

• Awards website www.nzawards.org.nz
• Please acknowledge our Principal Sponsor at least once in any editorial extract of this Press Release – without Kiwibank, the New Zealander of the Year Awards would not be able to take place.

What are the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards?

The purpose of the Awards is to recognise, encourage and reward New Zealand’s most vital resource - its people. The Awards seek out and promote the incredible achievements of individuals, organisations and community groups and create a sense of national pride, unity and inspiration through their example as mentors and role models to the wider community.

When are they?
Nominations are open now for any member of the public in New Zealand to nominate an individual or a community group they know of that is making a positive difference to the lives of others. The public can make nominations between 17 June and 30 September 2013.

Kiwibank is the principal sponsor of the New Zealander of the Year Awards and of this category – what sort of person are you hoping to get nominations for for the next New Zealander of the Year?
There is no age restriction in the New Zealander of the Year category and the person nominated does not have to be a Sir or a Dame.

The recipient will be selected for his or her major contribution to our nation, and that person will have demonstrated an unrivalled ability to inspire us all through both their achievements and their outstanding service to the country and its people.

This could be a person your listeners know personally or have heard of somone that inspires them and who they would like to nominate.

The other Award category that Kiwibank is heavily involved with is the popular Local Heroes Award – what is this about?

The Kiwibank Local Heros Award aims to reward and recognise the efforts of New Zealanders who are making positive contributions to their regions day in and day out.
These people are the unsung heroes of our communities and range from caregivers, to volunteers, community leaders, fundraisers, neighbours doing good deeds, people who help out with our kids kindy’s and schools or even help our sports people reach their goals for example.

What do the Local Heroes that get nominated recieve?
Each Local Hero that is nominated and meets the judging criteria will be awarded a medal in recognition of their efforts at a public event in their region in November. These award ceremonies will take place all over New Zealand.

In addition 10 Local Heroes will be chosen as semifinalists and there will be a New Zealand Local Hero of the Year announced at the Awards gala next February.

What other categories are there in the New Zealander of the Year Awards?
People can nominate an individual or community organisation in one or more of the following categories:
• Kiwibank New Zealaner of the Year
• Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year
• Coca Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year
• Sanitarium Innovator of the year
• Mitre 10 Community of the Year
• Kiwibank Local Heroes

How do people enter the New Zealander of the Year Awards?
Nominations can be completed online at www.nzawards.org.nz or nomination forms can be collected from any participating Kiwibank or Mitre 10 store nationwide. Nomination forms can also be requested toll free on 0508 692 927. The Awards Office can assist in completing a nomination form over the phone and nominators can choose to remain annonymous as well. The freecalling number is 0508 692 927.

We would like to hear from community groups and organisations and let all Kiwis know that this is an Awards programme for all of them.

Entry is free but all nominees must be New Zealand citizens and must have resided in New Zealand for a period of no less than two years.

Nominations close on September 30 , with finalists announced January 2014.
Local Heroes will be presented with their medals at public presentations around New Zealand in November and the winner of each category & the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year will be announced in February 2014.

Who should be nominated?

These Awards call for as many nominations as possible – the New Zealander of the Year Awards is about celebrating the very best of New Zealand, regardless of ethnicity, interest, gender or inclination. Anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to any group, organization, community should be considered a potential nominee – especially those that have already been awarded by their respective organizations.

What do the winners receive?

Winners of the New Zealander of the Year and Local Heroes category will each receive a $5,000 grant from Kiwibank, a specially crafted trophy, and a framed certificate commemorating their achievements. All finalists and nominees each receive a certificate commemorating their achievements.

What do these awards hope to achieve?

Simply put, these awards are about celebrating the best of us. We want all New Zealanders to feel a sense of pride at some of the extraordinary contributions people just like them make every day. If they know about it, it just may inspire others to reach for greater heights!

So, this isn’t just about famous people then?

Absolutely not! We would hope some well-known New Zealanders are nominated but ultimately you don’t have to be broadly recognised to have made a contribution to your country or your community. These awards are for everyone, at all levels and the judging will reflect that.

ADDENDUM – THE FACTS

The New Zealander of the Year Awards in Brief:

The New Zealander of the Year Awards will recognise, acknowledge and reward the individuals and community groups that demonstrate the greatest contribution to New Zealand and New Zealanders.

The New Zealander of the Year Awards will be presented at an Awards Gala in February 2014

Awards will be presented to The New Zealander of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Senior New Zealander of the Year, Young New Zealander of the Year, Community of the Year and the national Local Hero Award. Individuals may nominate in one or more of the 6 categories.

There will also be Local Heroes Awards presented in 15 regions throughout the country. From these winners 10 nominees will be selected for the national Local Heroes Award judging.

Nominations are open from June 2013 and will close on September 30, 2013.

Nominees must be New Zealand citizens and must have been resident in New Zealand for no less than 2 years.

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