Semi-finalists for New Zealander of the Year 2014

27 December 2013

Semi-finalists for New Zealander of the Year 2014

The New Zealander of the Year 2014 Awards Office is pleased to announce the approved list of ten people being considered for the 2014’s Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

They are:
• Dr Lance O’Sullivan: General Practitioner, Kaitaia
• Richie McCaw: Rugby player, Christchurch
• Bob Kerridge; Auckland RSPCA, Auckland
• Catriona Williams; Founder of CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, Masterton
• Dame Dr Iritana Tawhiwhirangi; Maori educator, Wellington
• Vi Cottrell; Founder of Trade Aid NZ, Christchurch
• Mai Chen; Public lawyer, Wellington
• Bob Parker; Broadcaster and former Mayor, Christchurch
• Frances Denz; Business leader and education, Tauranga
• Barry Lucinsky; Environmentalist and inventor, Otaki

Comment from Chief Judge, Cameron Bennett
These ten people are exceptional individuals who followed their passions and contributed to improving the lives of many New Zealanders.

Determining who will be the New Zealander of Year is a very tough job for the judging panel. The calibre of nominations was very high.

In their own way, each of these people is a revolutionary. Some have worked tirelessly for their local communities, others have stamped their mark at a national or even international level. They are all Kiwis of whom we can be very proud.

Background
The annual New Zealander of the Year awards is in its fifth year. It recognises, encourages and rewards New Zealand's most vital asset - its people. It is open to all New Zealanders and celebrates the contributions of New Zealanders from all walks of life. Nearly 250 nominations were received for the 2014 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

In January, the judging panel – comprising representatives of all the awards patrons, presenters, sponsors, community leaders and independent experts – will announce the three finalists who will attend the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards.

The 2014 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards in Auckland in February next year.

Previous winners of the New Zealander of the Year Award are: Dame Anne Salmond (2013), Sir Richard Taylor (2012), Sir Paul Callaghan (2011) and Sir Ray Avery (2010).

Other categories
The New Zealander of the Year Awards 2014 will also be honoring New Zealanders who have performed with distinction in five award categories. The semi-finalists for those categories are:

Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year
Brando Yelavich (North Shore); Parris Goebel(Auckland); Andrew McDaid (Auckland); Kristina Cavit (Auckland); Ludwig Wendzich (Auckland); Lydia Ko (North Shore); Sophie Pascoe (Auckland); Jason Pemberton (Christchurch); Todd Balogh (Dunedin); Dale Stewart (Whangaparoa).

Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year
Ian Mclean (Rotorua); Bob Kerridge (Auckland); Francis Denz (Tauranga); Julie Bartlett (Auckland); Tom Clarkson (Westland); Billy Graham (Lower Hutt); Michael Mudford (Dargaville); Vi Cottrell (Christchurch); Frank Lowry (New Plymouth); Barry Lucinsky (Otaki).

Mitre 10 Community of the Year
NZ Council Victim Support (Wellington/NZ); Cranford Hospice (Hastings); KidsCan (NZ wide); UN Youth (Wellington); NZ Cadet Forces (NZ wide); ToughLove (Auckland); Magnet (Christchurch); Ronald McDonald House (Auckland); Starjam (Auckland); Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust (Tauranga).

Sanitarium Innovator of the Year
Dr Sean Simpson (Auckland); Andre Prassinos (Rotorua); Christopher Rodley (Nelson); Dr Craig Radford (Warkworth); Stuart Dennis (Rotorua).

Kiwibank Local Heroes Awards
Dale Smith (Gisborne); Cecilia Sullivan-Grant (Mosgiel); Juping Zhou (Wellington); Janice Byford (Taihape); Dr Lance O’Sullivan (Kaitaia); David Lean (Wellington); Tim Davies-Colley (Porirua)
Soteria Mareko (Auckland); Katrina Mitchell (Wellington); Simon Park (Wellington).

More information on the 2014 New Zealander of the Awards and the semi-finalists for each category is at www.nzawards.co.nz

ENDS

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