NZDF Person of the Year 2024
The Person of the Year event is an annual event for the NZDF to celebrate individual successes and recognise organisational excellence. The event allows members of our Senior Leadership Team to reflect on the year passed and acknowledge the achievements of a group of award winners from across the Defence Force.
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Sailor of the Year
The Sailor of the Year (SOTY) award recognises exceptional performance among Junior Ratings, and the significant contribution they make to our Navy in achieving our mission.
All serving RNZN and RNZNVR personnel who hold the substantive rank of Leading Hand or below as at 01 Aug 24 are eligible. A number of trades have awards for outstanding performance, i.e Communicator of the Year. The recipients of these awards are to be nominated by respective Head of Trade into the SOTY selection process. There is no restriction on the number of nominations from any division, ship or establishment.
Check ILP announcements for how to nominate.
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Soldier of the Year
The Soldier of the Year Award recognises our soldiers and officers who pursue the journey of excellence, demonstrate professional and domain expertise, and who display the core characteristics of the NZ Army soldier.
Nominations are to include a formal citation and a short biography. The citation should reflect the overall eligibility and criteria requirements describing what the soldier has achieved, details of the reasons they are being nominated, and any extracurricular accomplishments to complement their nomination.Please submit nominations through your command chain and check ILP announcements for how to nominate.
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Aviator of the Year
The annual RNZAF Aviator of the Year (AOTY) award recognises an aviator of the rank CPL and below, who most exemplifies the NZDF core values and who makes a significant contribution in the nature of their primary duty and/or trade. The nomination includes how the person has contributed to the outputs and core business of their unit, trade and/or across the RNZAF and NZDF and includes demonstrated leadership and innovation.
The nomination may include relevant additional activities such as involvement in; community, volunteer work, committees, clubs and sporting activities.Check ILP announcements for how to nominate.
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Civilian of the Year
The Civilian of the Year award is an opportunity to recognise the achievements of civilian employees and colleagues.
Please consult your command chain before submitting a nomination.
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Volunteer of the Year
The NZDF Volunteer of the Year award recognises members of the NZDF who are passionate about helping out, in addition to their work for the NZDF.
It’s someone who reflects the NZDF core values of courage, commitment, comradeship and is a role model in their community.
Tell us about the incredible volunteers we have within our NZDF community and submit a nomination. You can nominate yourself or someone else.
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Safety Person of the Year
The Safety Person of the Year recognises someone doing great things to improve safety in the NZDF. The nominee should be working to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our people, visitors, and contractors. This can be through leadership, their commitment to improving safety, the way they promote health, safety and wellbeing, or a safety innovation.
We welcome nominations regardless of the nominee’s rank or whether health and safety is part of their role or not. They could be your HSR, a safety practitioner/professional, or anyone who serves or works in the NZDF. If a nominee has been recognised in another forum, they can still be considered for this award. Note that most of the activity needs to have taken place over the past 12 months. The Directorate of Safety also reserves the right to re-categorise your nomination into another category in the NZDF Safety Awards.
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Reservist of the Year
The Reservist of the Year Award recognises a member of the NZDF, regardless of Service, trade, branch or rank, who best exemplifies the Defence Force values of Tu Kaha – Courage, Tu Tika – Commitment, Tu Tira – Comradeship, and Tu Maia – Integrity, in their service as a Reservist.
Our reservists are part-time members of the NZDF who have civilian employment or study commitments in their life outside of the military, and we are looking to acknowledge someone who goes above and beyond in their service.
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Innovation of the Year
Innovation of the Year recognises any innovation from a group or individual, that was developed and implemented in the last 12 months. Innovations can be in the areas of continuous improvement, new ideas, innovations from Cadets, or something that contributes to environmental guardianship and stewardship.
All uniformed or civilian personnel can be nominated.
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Squadron Leader Peter Rule Memorial Award
The Peter Rule Memorial Award recognises the contribution of an individual, who is making a positive contribution to NZDF being an inclusive place to work. A diverse and inclusive NZDF is essential for attracting and retaining people from the widest talent pool, and providing great, rewarding careers.
Submit a nomination for a member of the NZDF who has made a positive contribution to the NZDF’s diversity and inclusion by:
- displaying inclusive practices and attitudes;
- valuing and championing diversity and inclusion;
- addressing discrimination and bias; or
- generally, acting in the spirit of inclusiveness and creating belonging.
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Outstanding Sports Award
The outstanding sports award recognises a team or individual that has made the most outstanding achievement in sport in the previous 12 months, whether as a competitor, coach, team management, officiating, or as a team.
This can be in any of the approved NZDF sports codes or any other sport they have represented.