Categories & Criteria 2027

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Reference Template

This award is designed for outstanding students enrolled in a major in human resource management (or a related field relevant to HR practice) as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It recognises students who have shown academic excellence and the qualities -curiosity, initiative, critical thinking - that suggest strong potential as future HR practitioners. 

Judged against: Individual entry template   |   Requires: HRNZ Student Member 

Eligibility: Currently enrolled in the final year of a relevant qualification, and a paid HRNZ student member

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Reference Template

This award recognises an individual who has exhibited excellence in either a generalist or specialist HR role, and who exhibits the full attributes of a professional - technical capability, judgement, ethics and impact – in the way they approach their work. This person is known for making a genuine difference within their organisation and for their contribution to the wider HR profession. 

Judged against: Individual entry template   |   Requires: Chartered Member of HRNZ 

Eligibility: At least four years’ experience in an HR practitioner role, and a Chartered Member of HRNZ

HR Person of the Year is the premium individual Award, awarded to the individual who the judges assess as the most outstanding exemplar in their category.

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

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Individual | Organisational | Reference Template

This award recognises the work, impact and commitment of volunteers within the HR community, including those contributing through HRNZ's Regional and Special Interest Networks. Submissions may be made for an individual or a group, and can be submitted by the volunteer's network, regional committee, or colleagues on their behalf. 

Judged against: Individual or Organisational entry template, depending on how you enter 

Eligibility: Applicants must be a member of HRNZ. 

Sample Entry & Criteria Template - Individual  |  Organisation | Reference Template

This award recognises individuals and organisations advancing bi-cultural practice - integrating Māori cultural values and tikanga into their workplace practices, including HR policy and process - and who can demonstrate tangible improvement in outcomes for Māori in the workplace. Entries are welcomed at any stage of the journey - from organisations and individuals taking meaningful early steps through to those with an established track record of leadership in this space. HR expertise or membership of an HR team is not essential, but a clear connection to HR practice, and evidence of engagement with HR teams, is expected. This category merges the former Mana Tangata Emerging and Mana Tangata Leader categories into a single award spanning the full journey. 

Judged against: Individual or Organisational entry template, depending on how you enter 

Eligibility: Open to individuals and organisations. HRNZ membership is not required.

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Reference Template

This award recognises outstanding initiatives and strategies used by an organisation to attract, select and onboard talent in a competitive or changing labour market. This may include employer brand and candidate experience innovation, new approaches to sourcing and selection, use of technology or AI in recruitment, or strategies addressing specific skills shortages - or any other approach that has genuinely improved how you attract and secure talent. Judges are looking for a considered, strategic approach with evidence of impact on quality of hire, time to hire, or candidate experience - not a single recruitment campaign. 

Judged against: Organisational entry template 

Eligibility: Open to organisations of any size or industry. HRNZ membership is not required. 

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Reference Template

This award recognises organisations that have gone beyond diversity policy to deliver genuine equity of access and opportunity for their people. Good people practice requires more than treating everyone the same - it requires practices that are consistently fair while flexible enough to meet different needs. Entries may address pay equity, accessible and inclusive systems, flexible work that serves diverse circumstances, or initiatives addressing barriers faced by specific groups - or any other initiative that has delivered genuine equity of access and opportunity. Judges are looking for evidence of outcomes achieved, not intentions stated. 

Judged against: Organisational entry template 

Eligibility: Open to organisations of any size or industry. HRNZ membership is not required. 

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Reference Template

Recognises outstanding initiatives and/or strategies promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of employees in their workplace, reflecting how closely the three are now connected in practice. Health and safety may include physical safety systems and hazard/risk management, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and compliance with health and safety legislation and best practice; wellbeing may include psychosocial risk, workload design, flexible work that genuinely supports wellbeing, and manager capability to support their teams - or any other approach that puts your people's health, safety and wellbeing genuinely at the centre. This includes work that goes beyond wellness perks or one-off programmes to address root causes. Entries should demonstrate a considered strategy with measurable impact, rather than a single initiative in isolation. 

Judged against: Organisational entry template 

Eligibility: Open to organisations of any size or industry. HRNZ membership is not required

Sample Entry & Criteria Template | Reference Template

This award recognises organisations that are successfully transforming the way work is done through the integration of people, technology and innovation. This is bigger than technology: entries might explore AI and digital tools, flexible or remote working models, skills-first or non-traditional hiring approaches, four-day weeks or other working-time innovation, new reward and recognition models, or other genuinely future-focused ways of working. What connects a strong entry is a deliberate rethink of an established way of working that has been embedded into how the organisation actually operates, with evidence of impact for both the business and its people. 

Judged against: Organisational entry template 

Eligibility: Open to organisations of any size or industry. HRNZ membership is not required.

Awarded to the organisation showing greatest overall leadership in HR practice.  Will be awarded to a winner in one of the organisational categories.

Eligibility: The recipient of this award will be determined from the pool of organisation category winners.