New Zealand Women of Influence Award


The New Zealand Women of Influence Awards are an annual set of awards which recognise women who make a difference to everyday New Zealanders' lives. The Awards were first made in 2013 and were initially sponsored by Westpac Bank. In 2016, Stuff NZ became a joint sponsor.
The Awards were initially presented in five categories. As of 2019, they are made in ten categories: Board and Management, Business Enterprise, Science, Health and Innovation, Young Leader, Arts and Culture, Public Policy, Community and Not-for-profit, Diversity, Global and Rural. A Local and Regional Award was also made in 2013 and 2014. In addition, there is a Supreme Award. In 2016 a Lifetime Achievement Award was introduced.
Nominations are invited from the public, and a selection panel makes the final decisions on award recipients.

Recipients

Supreme Woman of Influence

The 2018 Supreme Award went to Jackie Clark, of The Aunties, a charity working with domestic violence survivors in South Auckland. Cecilia Robinson won the Supreme Award in 2017, and Helen Robinson in 2016. Joan Withers won the 2015 Supreme Award for her work campaigning for more women on boards and in business.
The 2014 Supreme winner was Lesley Elliott for her work at the Sophie Elliott Foundation, which educates New Zealanders on healthy relationships.
Dame Therese Walsh, chief operating officer for Rugby New Zealand 2011, received the Supreme Award in 2013.

Lifetime Achievement

In 2018, the Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Theresa Gattung. In 2017 the Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Helen Clark. The inaugural winner, in 2016, was Dame Rosanne Meo.

Board and Management

won the 2018 award. The 2017 winner was Anne-Maree O'Connor. The 2016 winner was businesswoman Helen Robinson, who was also the winner of the Supreme Award. The 2015 winner was Joan Withers, who also won the Supreme Award. The 2014 winner was Traci Houpapa. The 2013 winner was also the winner of the Supreme Award, Dame Therese Walsh.

Business Enterprise

won the 2018 award for Business Enterprise. The 2017 winner for business entrepreneurship was Cecilia Robinson, who also won the Supreme Award, and the 2016 winner was Lisa King. The 2015 winner was Linda Jenkinson. In 2014 the winner was Dame Wendy Pye. The 2013 winner was lawyer Mai Chen.

Innovation and Science

won the 2018 award for Innovation and Science. The 2017 winner was Hinemoa Elder of the Centre of Research Excellence for the Ageing Brain. The 2016 winner was scientist Michelle Dickinson. The 2015 winner was education futurist Frances Valintine. The 2014 winner was chemist Margaret Brimble. The 2013 winner was Marilyn Waring.

Young Leader

In 2013 and 2014 this category was "Emerging Leader". The 2014 winner was Althea Carbon, and the 2013 winner was Mahsa Mohaghegh.
In 2015 it was renamed "Young Leader" and the winner was hip hop choreographer Parris Goebel. The 2016 winner was Alexia Hilbertidou, the founder of GirlBoss NZ. The 2017 winner was Sharnay Cocup, founder of the Taupiri Youth Group Trust. The 2018 award was given to Maddison McQueen-Davies founder of Share a Pair NZ.

Arts and Culture

won the 2018 award for Arts and Culture. The 2017 winner was fashion designer Denise L'Estrange-Corbet; the 2016 winner was filmwriter, director and producer Gaylene Preston. The 2015 winner was Victoria Spackman.

Public Policy

The 2018 award was won by Charlotte Korte, for her part in creating Mesh Down Under. The 2017 winner was Director of Security at the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, Rebecca Kitteridge. The 2016 winner was Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Naomi Ferguson. This category was new in 2015; the winner was Vicky Robertson, Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment and Secretary for the Environment.

Community and not-for-profit

This category was originally titled "Community and Social", renamed "Community" in 2014, and is currently titled "Community and not-for-profit".
The 2017 winner was Lisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My Lunch. The 2016 winner was Catriona Williams. The 2015 winner was Stacey Shortall. The 2014 winner was also the Supreme Award winner, Lesley Elliott. The 2013 winner was Emeline Afeaki-Mafile'o. The 2018 winner was Jackie Clark, who also won the Supreme Award.

Diversity

Sarah Lang won the 2018 award for Diversity. The 2017 winner was Minnie Baragwanath, the founder of Be. Accessible, a social change agency focusing on changing how New Zealanders view accessibility. The 2016 winner was Wellington politician Sue Kedgley. The 2015 winner was Colonel Karyn Thompson, the most senior woman in the New Zealand Defence Force.

Global

The 2018 winner was Sarah Vrede. The 2017 winner was Sian Simpson. The 2016 winner was New Zealand's auditor-general, Lyn Provost. The 2015 winner was London-based lawyer Judith Mayhew Jonas.

Rural

won the 2018 Rural award. The 2017 winner was Nicola Shadbolt; the 2016 winner was Mavis Mullins, and the 2015 winner was Katie Milne.

Local and regional

This award has been made twice: in 2014 the winner was Wellington politician Kerry Prendergast, and in 2013, another Wellington politician, Fran Wilde.

Social enterprise

This award has been made once, in 2014, when it was presented jointly to Jo-anne Wilkinson and Anne Miles.