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.

Nominations are invited from the public. A panel selects finalists in each category, who are invited to an awards dinner at the Aotea Centre in Auckland where the recipients are announced. In 2021 the awards dinner was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Categories The Awards were initially presented in seven categories; additional categories have since been introduced and as of 2020 the Awards are made in ten categories: Board and Management, Business Enterprise, Innovation and Science, Young Leader, Arts and Culture, Public Policy, Community and Not-for-profit, Diversity, Global and Rural. In addition, there is a Supreme Award, which is awarded each year, and a Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been awarded four times.

The category Innovation and Science was titled Science, Health and Innovation until 2019. In 2021 it was renamed Innovation, Science and Health. The category Young Leader was titled Emerging Leader in 2013 and 2014. The category Arts and Culture was titled Arts in 2013 and 2014. The category Community and Not-for-Profit was titled Community and Social in 2013, Community in 2014 and Community Hero in 2021.

The category Social Enterprise has been awarded once, in 2014. The category Local and Regional has been awarded twice, in 2013 and in 2014.

In 2021, the category Global was not awarded, a category Environment was added and the category Rural was renamed Primary Industries.

Judges Dame Silvia Cartwright is the head of the judging panel. On the 2020 panel with her were Sir John Kirwan, Vanisa Dhiru, Abbie Reynolds, Sinead Boucher and Gina Dellabarca. In 2021 Francene Wineti replaced Sir John Kirwan on the panel.

Recipients

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2021Supreme Woman of InfluenceBronwyn Hayward, expert on sustainability, climate change and youthLifetime AchievementDame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand's first female High Court judge and second female Governor-GeneralBoard and ManagementCassandra Crowley, CEO of Te Arawa Management LimitedBusiness EnterpriseJessie Wong, director of Yu MeiInnovation, Science and HealthBev Lawton, founder and director of Centre for Women's Health Research – Te Tātai Hauora o HineYoung LeaderKate Gatfield-Jeffries, co-founder of Young Women in Business and Law mentoring groupsArts and CultureQiane Matata-Sipu, founder and creator of NUKUPublic PolicyMelanie Mark-Shadbolt, Deputy Secretary Māori Rights and Interests, Ministry for the EnvironmentDiversityDana Youngman, television executive Community HeroBernadette Pinnell, founder of Compass Housing ServicesPrimary IndustriesTia Potae, Whānau Ora navigator at Tokomairiro WaioraEnvironmentBronwyn Hayward +YearCategoryRecipientNotes2020Supreme Woman of InfluenceSiouxsie Wiles, microbiologist and leading COVID-19 commentatorLifetime AchievementLuamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, New Zealand's first female MP of Pacific Island descentBoard and ManagementDame Alison Paterson, businesswoman and company directorBusiness EnterpriseSonya Williams and Brooke Roberts, co-founders of SharesiesInnovation and ScienceSiouxsie WilesYoung LeaderAigagalefili Fepulea'i Tapua'i, climate change and social equality campaignerArts and CultureParris Goebel, choreographer and dancerPublic PolicyUna Jagose, New Zealand Solicitor-GeneralCommunity and Not-for-ProfitRanjna Patel, domestic violence campaignerDiversityTupe Solomon-Tanoa'i, diplomatGlobalJane Kelsey, lawyer and political scientistRuralTrish Fraser, soil scientist

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2019Supreme Woman of InfluenceDame Jane Harding, medical researcherBoard and ManagementAbbie Reynolds, sustainable business leaderBusiness EnterpriseBrianne West, sustainable beauty entrepreneur and founder of EthiqueInnovation and ScienceDame Jane HardingYoung LeaderAnnika Andresen, marine conservationistArts and CultureJennifer Ward-Lealand, actressPublic PolicyDebbie Sorensen, public health leaderCommunity and Not-for-ProfitSwanie Nelson, community organiserDiversityTapu Misa, journalistGlobalAnne-Marie Brady, political scientistRuralGina Mohi, environmental planner

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2018Supreme Woman of InfluenceJackie Clark, of The Aunties, a charity working with domestic violence survivors in South AucklandLifetime AchievementTheresa Gattung, businesswoman and former chief executive of Telecom New ZealandBoard and ManagementFarah Palmer, former captain of New Zealand's women's rugby union team, the Black FernsBusiness EnterpriseAngie Judge, technology entrepreneurScience, Health and InnovationWendy Larner, president of the Royal Society Te ApārangiYoung LeaderMaddison McQueen-Davies, founder of Share a Pair NZArts and CultureMiranda Harcourt, actressPublic PolicyCharlotte Korte, for creating Mesh Down UnderCommunity and Not-for-ProfitJackie ClarkDiversitySarah Lang, founder of Women's Infrastructure NetworkGlobalSarah VredeRuralRebecca Keoghan

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2017Supreme Woman of InfluenceCecilia Robinson, founder of My Food BagLifetime AchievementHelen Clark, former Prime Minister of New ZealandBoard and ManagementAnne-Maree O'Connor, investment bankerBusiness EnterpriseCecilia RobinsonScience, Health and InnovationHinemoa Elder, youth forensic psychiatristYoung LeaderSharnay Cocup, founder of the Taupiri Youth Group TrustArts and CultureDenise L'Estrange-Corbet, fashion designerPublic PolicyRebecca Kitteridge, director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence ServiceCommunity and Not-for-ProfitLisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My LunchDiversityMinnie Baragwanath, founder of Be. Accessible, a social change agency focusing on changing how New Zealanders view accessibilityGlobalSiân SimpsonRuralNicola Shadbolt, agricultural businesswoman

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2016Supreme Woman of InfluenceHelen Robinson, businesswomanLifetime AchievementDame Rosanne Meo, businesswomanBoard and ManagementHelen RobinsonBusiness EnterpriseLisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My LunchScience, Health and InnovationMichelle Dickinson, nanotechnologist and science educatorYoung LeaderAlexia Hilbertidou, founder of GirlBoss NZArts and CultureGaylene Preston, filmwriter, director and producerPublic PolicyNaomi Ferguson, Commissioner of Inland RevenueCommunity and Not-for-ProfitCatriona Williams, founder of Catwalk TrustDiversitySue Kedgley, Wellington politicianGlobalLyn Provost, Auditor-General of New ZealandRuralMavis Mullins

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2015Supreme Woman of InfluenceJoan Withers, for her work campaigning for more women on boards and in businessBoard and ManagementJoan WithersBusiness EnterpriseLinda Jenkinson, entrepreneurScience, Health and InnovationFrances Valintine, education futuristYoung LeaderParris Goebel, choreographer and dancerArts and CultureVictoria Spackman, creative director and business executivePublic PolicyVicky Robertson, Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment and Secretary for the EnvironmentCommunity and NStacey Shortall, volunteer lawyer in women's prisonsDiversityColonel Karyn Thompson, the most senior woman in the New Zealand Defence ForceGlobalDame Judith Mayhew Jonas, lawyerRuralKatie Milne, first woman president of Federated Farmers

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2014Supreme Woman of InfluenceLesley Elliott, for her work at the Sophie Elliott Foundation, which educates New Zealanders on healthy relationshipsBoard and ManagementTraci Houpapa, company directorBusiness EnterpriseDame Wendy Pye, publisherScience, Health and InnovationDame Margaret Brimble, chemistEmerging LeaderParris Goebel, choreographer and dancerArtsShona McCullagh, choreographer and founding director of the New Zealand Dance CompanyCommunityLesley ElliottLocal and RegionalKerry Prendergast, Wellington politicianSocial EnterpriseJo-anne Wilkinson and Anne Miles

+YearCategoryRecipientNotes2013Supreme Woman of InfluenceDame Therese Walsh, chief operating officer for the 2011 Rugby World CupBoard and ManagementDame Therese WalshBusiness EnterpriseMai Chen, constitutional and administrative lawyerScience, Health and InnovationMarilyn Waring, public policy scholarEmerging LeaderMahsa Mohaghegh, founder of women's networking group She SharpArtsVictoria Spackman, creative director and business executiveCommunity and SocialEmeline Afeaki-Mafile'o, community leaderLocal and RegionalFran Wilde, Wellington politician

See also

List of awards honoring women

References