2026 Finalists

Awards homepage | Awards Ceremony 2026

Congratulations to the NZ HR Award Finalists for 2026.

HRNZ in association with Principal Partners AMP, are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 NZ HR Awards. Congratulations to the following individuals and organisations.  Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on the 26th of March, in Auckland.

Individual Categories

HR Professional of the Year 

• Annerita Edy - McDonald's Restaurants New Zealand   
• Kirsten Beggs - dentsu Aotearoa
• Michal Pawlowicz - Hind Management / Sudima Hotels 

Emerging HR Professional of the Year

• Anna Morris - Matatū Aotearoa |Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Casey Hartigan - 2degrees
• Olivia McBain - Mataura Valley Milk
• Shania Fox - VIP Group 

HR Student of the Year Award 

• Emil Sunny - Massey University
• Sophia Hardie - University of Otago 

Leadership Award

• Amanda Herron-Quan  - Manaaki Tāngata Victim Support
• Gillian Brookes – Owner, operator: Gillian Brookes
• Helen Smith - 2degrees
• Natalie Bullent  - Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance 

Outstanding Service Award in association with Strategic Pay

• The recipient of this award is decided by the HRNZ Board and announced live at the Awards Ceremony

HR Person of the Year 

• The recipient of this award will be determined from the pool of individual category winners [except Outstanding Service Award]

Individual / Organisation Categories

Volunteer[s] of the Year Award 

• Academic Special Interest Network
• Auckland Regional Network 

Mana Tangata Awards 

• Bioeconomy Science Institute, Group Plant & Food Research
• Joseph Stafford - Intracare
• Shannon Turner - Whakarongorau Aotearoa / New Zealand Telehealth Services  

Organisation Categories

Business Impact Award (NEW)

• Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
• Genesis Energy
• Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support
• McDonald's Restaurants New Zealand
• Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance
• Waitaki District Council  

Talent Acquisition Award

• Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
• Hōhepa Hawke's Bay
• Ministry for Regulations
• Parliamentary Service

Learning and Development Award  in association with Complete Learning Solutions
 

• DB Breweries
• Mercy Hospital Dunedin
• My Food Bag
• NZ Post
• Southern Cross Healthcare 

Diversity and Inclusion Award

• Rio Tinto
• SkyCity Entertainment Group
• Tonkin + Taylor 

Wellness Programme Award 

• Alpine Energy
• dentsu Aotearoa
• Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support
• Lyttleton Port Company
• McDonald's Restaurants NZ
• New Plymouth District Council 

Future of Work Award 

• 2degrees
• One NZ  

Building Sustainability through People Award 

• 2degrees
• Omexom
• Southland Kindergarten Association

HRNZ Supreme Award in association with AMP 

• The recipient of this award will be determined from the pool of organisation category winners