Let’s celebrate all things HR!

Alice Croucher, HR Research Analyst with HRNZ, outlines the many opportunities available within the NZ HR Awards, the annual celebration of New Zealand’s HR professionals.

The NZ HR Awards, hosted by HRNZ, celebrate excellence within the HR profession, recognising the individuals and organisations that shape and advance the industry through their practices. Categories, such as HR Professional of the Year and Emerging HR Practitioner (among many others), recognise organisational excellence and highlight achievements across leadership, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. The HRNZ Awards are a celebration of all that New Zealand’s HR professionals have to offer, and 2025 promises to be the most exciting year yet!

Entering the NZ HR Awards is an opportunity to showcase organisation contributions while honouring those individuals who continue to drive future-focused evolution and excellence in HR. These awards set the benchmarks for professional practice across New Zealand. Winners gain recognition across the HR community, not only enhancing their professional standing but also furthering their influence. Beyond celebrating success, the awards champion a collaborative spirit and inspire HR practitioners to continue evolving and leading transformative work.

The HRNZ Awards are a celebration of all that New Zealand’s HR professionals have to offer, and 2025 promises to be the most exciting year yet!

The areas these awards highlight include talent acquisition, learning and development, wellness programmes and sustainability, all of which are critical pillars of modern HR. An important category for the context of Aotearoa is the Mana Tangata Award, which honours those promoting Māori cultural values in HR practice. These efforts reflect a growing emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion within the profession.

The entries in each respective category reveal the trends that are occurring within the HR community in New Zealand. In the past year, one of the standout categories was the Learning and Development Award. This saw a staggering threefold increase in applications, closely followed by the Wellness Programme and Talent Acquisition Awards, both of which also experienced a surge in entries. The number of entries in these categories in the last HR Awards reflects the growing prioritisation of employee development, wellbeing and innovative talent strategies in today’s workplaces. Sustainability also took centre stage, with the Building Sustainability through People Award receiving more than twice as many submissions as the previous year. What was especially exciting in this category was the representation from smaller organisations across diverse sectors –property services, hospitality and health – which are making waves by aligning business success with sustainability.

The Emerging Professional category also saw an impressive spike in interest, with more than three times the number of applicants compared with the previous year, as the next generation of HR leaders steps up. The ability for individuals to be recognised at this stage in their career promotes early stage career HR professionals to self-reflect on where they are in their journey and provides tangible goals and a recognition of achievement for those wanting to continue to increase their influence in the workplace.

The creativity and impact of last year’s Learning and Development Award applicants deserve special recognition.

From leadership programmes that have elevated performance and employee engagement to learning management systems offering self-paced, targeted training, organisations are fostering cultures of continuous improvement and empowerment. One organisation’s effort to help employees achieve recognised qualifications faster is just one example of how HR is transforming lives and businesses. Talent acquisition strategies have also seen exciting developments, with innovative approaches such as storytelling, social campaigns and a strong focus on career development to retain top talent. Across all categories, the dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion has been extraordinary. Whether through initiatives to champion workplace inclusion, racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights or te ao Māori, organisations are proving their commitment to fostering workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Entering the NZ HR Awards is an opportunity to showcase organisation contributions while honouring those individuals who continue to drive future-focused evolution and excellence in HR.

For HR professionals and organisations alike, these awards offer a chance to reflect on achievements, engage with peers and inspire future advancements in the field. By celebrating the people who shape the future of HR, the NZ HR Awards not only recognise excellence but also encourage ongoing innovation and professional development. The New Zealand HR Awards 2025 are not just about recognising the best in HR, they are about celebrating the transformative power of HR in shaping inclusive, innovative and sustainable workplaces. With entries spanning industries from construction to health, government to hospitality, the HRNZ Awards continue to attract diverse organisations united by their commitment to excellence. Let’s celebrate these trailblazers and look forward to another year of incredible achievements in the HR profession!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE AWARDS:

The submissions for 2025 entries closed on 29 October 2024.

Finalists will be announced on 29 November 2024.

Sales for the Award Dinner tickets start in the week beginning 25 November 2024, and the Awards Ceremony is held on 27 February at the Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland.

See you there!

Alice Croucher joined HRNZ in September 2023. As an HR Research Analyst, she specialises in gathering and evaluating research related to human resources practices and trends. Her role involves analysing qualitative and quantitative data (as well as case law and statutory changes) to provide insights and recommendations for optimising HR practices to our members. She is in her final year of her conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts with Honours majoring in Sociology and Social Policy.