Turei leads NZer of Year nominations
Former Greens co-leader Metiria Turei has received the most nominations for the 2018 New Zealander Of The Year Awards so far.
Support for Turei increased after her resignation following an admission she lied to Work and Income to receive higher benefit payments in the 1990s, the awards organisation said.
The nominee with the second highest number of nominations was Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce – although his eligibility to win won’t be assessed until submissions have closed.
Joyce was recently revealed to be a New Zealand citizen because his father was born here. Since then, the politician has renounced his New Zealand citizenship. Stuff contacted his office for comment.
A shortlist of candidates will be announced in December.
Organisers were also calling for more nominations for other categories, including Young and Senior New Zealander Of The Year, Local Hero, Innovator and Community Of The Year.
Also nominated for 2018 Kiwibank New Zealander Of The Year:
Kristina Cavit – founder and director of The Kindness Institute
Grant Dalton – managing director of Team New Zealand
Kelly Dugan – chief executive and founder SmileDial NZ
Mark Dunajtschik – philanthropist
Heather Henare – Skylight chief executive, and the former head of Women’s Refuge New Zealand
Dr Mike Joy – senior lecturer in ecology/zoology at Massey University
Mike King – mental health advocate
Lizzie Marvelly – musician, writer and activist
Michael Meredith – awardwinning chef and co-founder of Eat My Lunch Kathryn Ryan – broadcaster Annah Stretton – fashion designer and founder of Reclaim Another Women
Dr Ingrid Visser – founder of Orca Research Trust