Young New Zealander of the Year | Te Mātātahi o te Tau 2025

This prestigious award recognises our most inspiring rangatahi (aged 15–30) who are leading with passion, innovation, and purpose to make Aotearoa New Zealand a better place. Nominees must have made a significant impact in the past 12 months and act as role models, demonstrating that age is no barrier to meaningful change.

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Nominees for the Young New Zealander of the Year award must:

• Be aged between 15–30 at the opening of nominations in July

• Have made a significant positive impact in the past 12 months

• Be a role model for young New Zealanders

• Meet the Conditions of Entry
  

What Do the Judges Look For?

Nominations are assessed across six criteria — each worth 10 points:

• Overall Inspiration – What makes this person inspiring?

• Purpose – Who benefits from their mahi, and how?

• Leadership – How do they set a positive example for others?

• Commitment – What risks, time, and challenges have they overcome?

• Proven Impact – How is their impact visible or measurable?

• Long-Term Vision – How do they plan to sustain or grow their impact?
  

Notable young Kiwis who have won, or become finalists for, this award include:

• Sam Judd (2013) – Trustee of Sustainable Coastlines, Sam empowered thousands of volunteers across Aotearoa to clean up waterways, plant native trees, and take action for the moana. His leadership helped shift community thinking around waste and environmental responsibility.

  
  

• Jamie Fenton (2011) – Jamie Fenton was named Young New Zealander of the Year in 2011 at just 17, recognised for her extraordinary achievements in science and innovation. Having passed School Certificate science at age eight and completed tertiary qualifications by ten, Jamie went on to invent a traffic light-style noise-level monitor to help protect preschoolers’ hearing.

  
  

• Namulau‘ulu Nu’uali’i Eteroa Lafaele (2025) – Namulau‘ulu Nu‘uali‘i Eteroa Lafaele is a Samoan software engineer and tech leader from Cannons Creek, Porirua, dedicated to bridging the digital divide for Pacific communities. As founder of DigiTautua and co-founder of Fibre Fale, she has delivered devices to families in need and empowered thousands through tech programmes. Recognised with awards like Forbes 30 Under 30 and the NZ Hi-Tech Young Achiever, Eteroa is amplifying Pasifika voices in tech and leading with purpose and innovation.
  

Other awards from the Kiwi Awards programme include:

• Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year (Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa) – for outstanding leadership and national contribution.

• Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year (Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau) – celebrating the achievements of those aged 70+.

• Spark New Zealand Innovator of the Year (Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau) – recognising creativity and breakthrough innovation.

• New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year (Te Toa Taiao o te Tau) – for leadership in environmental and sustainable action.

• Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year (Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau) – for groups making a difference at the community level.

• Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year (Te Pou Toko o te Tau) – recognising everyday people creating positive change locally.

• Fisher Funds New Zealand Legacy Award (Te Pou Tūroa o Aotearoa) – for those whose impact leaves a lasting legacy.

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Ngā mihi Bay Science would like to acknowledge and thank the team behind the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards for their commitment to uplifting rangatahi and communities across Aotearoa. All information in this article was sourced from nzawards.org.nz. If you notice an error or would like to make suggestions on future spotlight features, please get in touch at info@bayscience.nz.