The New Zealander of the Year Awards Office is proud to announce the Semi-Finalists in the Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau. These outstanding New Zealanders have been recognised by our independent judging panels for their leadership, impact, and service to Aotearoa.
These Semi-Finalists embody service, innovation, and kaitiakitanga – protecting people and the planet, advancing equity and justice, strengthening communities, and driving bold solutions. Together, they show how Aotearoa New Zealand’s greatest impact comes from compassion in action and leadership grounded in purpose.
Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau
Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod (Hawke’s Bay Te Matau-a-Māui) – From founding the world’s first Māori language festival to leading iwi-wide reo strategies, Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod is shaping the cultural future of Aotearoa with his work in work in reo revitalisation and marae restoration.
Fauzia Bashir (Otago Ōtākou) – From refugee to respected advocate, Fauzia Bashir has transformed her own experience of loss and displacement into decades of fearless service and leadership for women and migrant communities in Aotearoa.
Gary Mitchell (Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara) – Gary Mitchell is a hands-on environmental leader whose vision, energy, and 20,000 hours of volunteer mahi have restored habitats, protected wildlife, and inspired communities across Aotearoa and beyond.
Māhera Maihi (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – Through her organisation Mā Te Huruhuru, Māhera Maihi (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Muriwhenua) is transforming lives and communities by championing a kaupapa of systemic change, equity, and compassion in tackling homelessness and poverty.
Megan Fairley (Otago Ōtākou) – Through Project Hope and Beyond, Megan Fairley has turned compassion into action – raising over $100,000 for mental health and community causes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nielsen Family (Taranaki) – The Nielsen family’s tireless devotion to community service has transformed Conductive Education Taranaki, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion, selflessness, and impactful change throughout their community.
Peter Adams (Marlborough Te Tauihu-o-te-waka) – Peter Adams, through his unwavering commitment and leadership in Taskforce Kiwi, has made an immeasurable impact on communities in crisis, embodying the selfless spirit of service in the face of adversity.
Rachel Hill (Northland Te Tai Tokerau) – From coaching people through life’s toughest challenges to creating jobs for those often left out, Rachel Hill is reshaping what inclusion looks like in Te Tai Tokerau.
Roman Amosa (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) – At only 16 years old, Roman Amosa is transforming the way young people in Aotearoa think about themselves – empowering rangatahi through her family-founded initiative, Fit Teens.
Terri Middleton (West Coast Tai-o-Poutini) – Senior Constable Terri Middleton’s kaupapa of empowering youth and preventing harm has left an immeasurable impact, changing lives across generations and fortifying the strength and safety of her community.