NZDF Person of the Year 2025
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
This award recognises an exceptional sailor who consistently demonstrates professionalism, leadership, dedication, and commitment to Navy values and ethos. It recognises those who go above and beyond in representing the best of our Navy.
Eligibility: All RNZN Regular Force and Reserve Force sailors who are substantive Leading Hands and below as of 1 August 25 are eligible for nomination. Recipients of annual trade awards are to be nominated for the Sailor of the Year by their respective Heads of Trade.
Let’s recognise and celebrate the outstanding sailors who represent the heart and strength of our Navy.
Applications close Friday 12 September 2025
Application form and details can be found on the Navy intranet
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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 must be submitted through your chain of command using the AFNZ 1284 form. The citation should clearly outline 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.
Additional information can be found on the Awards section of the Directorate of Army Career Management intranet site. -
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 intranet 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.
Nominations not yet open.
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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.
Nominations not yet open.
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Squadron Leader Peter Rule Memorial Award
The Squadron Leader Peter Rule Inclusion Award recognises individuals who make a positive contribution towards NZDF culture and inclusion through everyday actions that demonstrate respect, integrity, and a commitment to others.
The award is named after Squadron Leader Peter Rule who had a distinguished Air Force career from 1955-75, including being awarded an MBE. His career was ended early when he was suspected of being gay at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the Defence Force.This award is for those who lead by example, strengthening trust, lifting morale, and contributing to an environment where people feel valued, included, able to perform at their best, and fully focused on the mission.
Nominees may be recognised for:
- 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
- actively living our values to strengthen team cohesion
This award celebrates the influence one person can have in shaping a stronger, more effective NZDF.