Nominations are open for one of the country’s most prestigious honours, the World Class New Zealand Awards that are presented by Kea and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

The awards recognise extraordinary New Zealanders who help enhance the country’s reputation on the world stage by being truly world class. Previous winners include neuroscientist Professor Richard Faull, Weta Workshop’s Richard Taylor and Snowy Peak founder Peri Drysdale.

Nominees are evaluated against five main criteria which include acting as a role model on the world stage, building global connections with New Zealand, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting New Zealand internationally and facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge or skills from and about New Zealand.

The award categories cover new thinking; biotechnology; the creative industries; finance, investment and business services; information and communications technology; manufacturing; research, science, technology and academia.

A supreme winner can also be nominated from outside these categories.

For only the second time an outstanding Friend of New Zealand will be named. This is someone who helps enhance New Zealand’s reputation on the world stage. The inaugural winner was renowned New York investor and philanthropist Julian Robertson.

Nominations closed 24 September 2010.

The Awards will be presented at a black-tie gala dinner in Auckland on 6 April 2011.
Click here to view photos and videos of the 2010 World Class New Zealand Awards.

For any enquiries, email: worldclass@keanewzealand.com.