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2025 Awards Winners

2025 NZ HR Awards winners announced! 

 

Last night, over 450 HR professionals gathered to celebrate the outstanding individuals and organisations driving positive change and best practices across Aotearoa, New Zealand. The NZ HR Awards provided a fantastic evening of networking, reflection, and recognition, honouring the dedication and impact of HR professionals in yet another challenging year. 

Marking its 26th year and HRNZ’s 40th anniversary, the awards, hosted by Human Resources New Zealand (HRNZ) in association with Principal Partner AMP, recognise excellence and leadership within New Zealand’s HR community. Congratulations to all entrants, finalists, and award winners! 

A massive thank you to our valued sponsors: AMP (Principal Partner), Complete Learning Solutions, Convergence, H2R Consulting, Inspire Group, recruitHRpeople, Strategic Pay, Tomorrow’s People, and Tribe Recruitment Group & Tau Mai. 

And now, HRNZ is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 NZ HR Awards... 

  

Individual Award Winners:   

  • HR Professional of the Year in association with Convergence – Barbara Daxenberger CMHRNZ, Tonkin + Taylor Group 
  • Emerging HR Practitioner of the Year in association with recruitHRpeople – Caitlin Ward APHRNZ, Danone Nutricia
  • HR Student of the Year – Poppy Fogarty, The University of Otago 
  • Leadership Award in association with Inspire Group – Dr Deepika Jindal CMHRNZ, University of Auckland
  • Outstanding Service Award in association with Strategic Pay – Nick McKissack CMHRNZ,  HRNZ
  • HR Person of the Year – Dr Deepika Jindal CMHRNZ, University of Auckland  

  

Individual / Organisation Categories  

  • Volunteer(s) of the Year Award – Auckland Branch Committee 
  • Mana Tangata – Emerging Māori HR Award in association with Tribe Recruitment Group & Tau Mai – Kacey Graham, Powerco 
  • Mana Tangata – Leader Māori HR Award in association with Tribe Recruitment Group & Tau Mai – Te Wānanga o Aotearoa 

  

Organisation Categories   

  • Talent Acquisition Award in association with H2R Consulting – Neptune Pacific Direct Line (NPDL)
  • Learning and Development Award in association with Complete Learning Solutions - Danone Nutricia
  • Diversity and Inclusion Award – dentsu Aotearoa  
  • Wellness Programme Award in association with AMP – DB Breweries
  • Future of Work Award in association with Tomorrow’s People – Fonterra Co-operative Group
  • Building Sustainability through People Award – Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
  • Organisational Change & Development Award - New Zealand Post - Just Transition
  • HRNZ Supreme Award in association with AMP – dentsu Aotearoa  

  

HRNZ Chief Executive, Nick McKissack shared a few words: “2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of HRNZ. This year, we’ll take the opportunity to celebrate with our members the journey we’ve taken and the thriving professional HR community we’ve built across Aotearoa. Tonight, we gather to honour the outstanding achievements of HR professionals in 2025 and shine a light on best practices that are driving our industry forward. For the 2025 Awards, we received our highest-ever number of entries across fewer categories, making for an especially challenging judging process. Reaching the finalist stage tonight is already an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to the calibre of talent and dedication in our profession...”  

Our Principal Partner AMP also shared that they are “Delighted to be Platinum Sponsors of this year’s HRNZ awards.”  

About the Special Award Winners...  

HR Person of the Year  

The HR person of the Year is selected from one of the individual award winners, who has shown the greatest overall leadership in HR practice.  

Dr Deepika Jindal CMHRNZ was awarded HR Person of the Year at the NZ HR Awards, recognising her impact on the HR profession. As an HR academic at the University of Auckland Business School, she is shaping the future of HR through education and industry collaboration. Her leadership within HRNZ, including her role as President of the Academic Branch, has strengthened connections between academia and practice. 

Deepika’s impact has been widely recognised, with multiple accolades to her name, including the University and Business School Excellence Awards and HRNZ’s Academic Impact Award. Now, as HR Person of the Year, her commitment to developing future HR leaders and advancing the profession has been celebrated at the highest level. 

HRNZ Supreme Award  

The HRNZ Supreme Award is awarded to the organisation showing greatest overall leadership in HR practice. In 2025, this award went to dentsu Aotearoa who was also the winner of the Diversity & Inclusion Award for their “Authentically Led” Programme, which involved transforming their DEI framework to create a truly inclusive workplace. 

Outstanding Service Award  

The Outstanding Service award recognises HR professionals who have served as a respected HR Professional or Academic and have helped to shape the profession and change the way that HR is perceived in the wider business community over an extended period of time.  

This year’s award was presented to Nick McKissack CMHRNZ for his transformative leadership at HRNZ. With a career spanning executive leadership, finance, and governance, HR has remained a constant thread in his journey. As Chief Executive, he has strengthened HR’s strategic influence, championed sustainability and bicultural initiatives, and led major technology advancements - all while advocating for HR professionals at every level. 

Nick’s impact extends beyond HRNZ, shaping industry discussions through the Future Workplace Forum and strengthening ties with universities to support the next generation of HR leaders. His pragmatic, future-focused leadership has left a lasting legacy on the profession. 

 

About the individual Award Winners...  

The individual Awards recognise the contributions of leading HR professionals across Aotearoa, New Zealand making a meaningful difference, championing change, and leading best HR practice.  

Winner of the HR Professional of the Year Award, Barbara Daxenberger CMHRNZ is the People & Culture Director at Tonkin + Taylor Group. She plays a pivotal role in strategic resourcing and HR service delivery, leading initiatives like the Career Compass programme and a new Performance and Rewards framework—both of which have boosted engagement, reduced turnover, and improved transparency. 

Under her leadership, T+T has built an award-winning, highly engaged team within a culture of psychological safety. Her dedication to fostering this environment is deeply embedded in the organisation and widely recognised. 

Dr Deepika Jindal CMHRNZ, as an HR academic at The University of Auckland and recipient of the Leadership Award, has transformed HRM education as Subject Group Lead and Director of the Master of Business Management programme. As President of HRNZ’s Academic Branch and a key Auckland Branch committee member, she champions best practices and collaboration. She played a fundamental role in the HRNZ-Business School Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening industry ties and elevating both institutions. Deepika’s leadership has driven strong industry collaborations, earning her multiple accolades, including the University, Business School, and HRNZ’s Academic Impact Award. 

Caitlin Ward APHRNZ, HR Coordinator and Bachelor of Applied Management student, received the Emerging HR Practitioner of the Year Award for her impactful contributions to culture and engagement at Danone Nutricia’s Balclutha site. She played a key role in the Digital Manufacturing Acceleration project, targeting a $1.7 million NZD productivity boost, and has been a driving force behind Danone Behaviours Training and culture initiatives. Her leadership in community and Employee Value Proposition (EVP) efforts has significantly enhanced employee engagement, productivity, and inclusivity.  

Poppy Fogarty, University of Otago, recipient of the HR Student of the Year Award, has been a standout HRNZ Student Ambassador, boosting student engagement through events, promotions, and industry collaboration. Gaining hands-on experience in her HR internship at MBIE, she played a key role in the People Hub, advising on HR matters, producing legal documentation, and supporting employees through change. Poppy’s leadership has inspired students to pursue their own HR journeys. 

 

About the Mana Tangata Award Winners  

The Award is for individuals/organisations who have implemented significant programmes that involve integrating Māori cultural values and tikanga into their practices including HRM policies.  

Kacey Graham, Leadership and Capability Manager at Powerco, has won the inaugural Emerging Māori HR Award for fostering a psychologically safe space and empowering emerging leaders, as Kaitiaki of tikanga and te ao Māori capability at Powerco. She developed Powerco’s Leadership Development Programme, integrating te whare tapa whā principles in collaboration with Māori leaders and organisational experts. The transformative programme enhances emotional intelligence, self-leadership, and cultural competency. 

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has won the Leader Māori HR Award for its innovative Kaupapa Māori Employee Value Proposition (EVP), which seamlessly integrates Māori cultural values into HR practices. This approach has boosted employee engagement from 73% to 81% and reduced turnover from 8.26% to 2.89%. By prioritising personal growth and cultural inclusivity, TWoA has created a supportive environment that attracts and retains skilled kaimahi, positioning the organisation as a leader in fostering a culturally rich workplace. 

About the Volunteer(s) of the Year Award   

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognises the work and impact and commitment of the volunteers within the HR community. Submissions for this award can be made by an individual or group, as well as by HRNZ’s various branch committees.   

The Auckland Branch Committee has won the Volunteer(s) of the Year Award for their outstanding contributions to the HR community. Through initiatives like the West Auckland Café Connect, partnerships with AUT and Massey University, and collaborations with Gallup and Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML), they have expanded their reach, supported students, and strengthened professional networks. Delivering over 80 impactful events, their efforts have fostered community, enhanced learning, and inspired HR professionals, leaving a lasting legacy in Auckland’s HR landscape.  

 

About the Organisational Awards Categories  

These categories are designed for organisational entries who have shown excellence in specific functional areas.  

Neptune Pacific Direct Line (NPDL) has won the Talent Acquisition Award for its innovative recruitment framework. Tasked with hiring 11 finance data specialists in just four months while ensuring business continuity, NPDL’s two-person New Zealand recruitment team overcame a limited talent pool without compromising company values. 

Using SMART goals, social media, and international headhunting, they sourced niche Oracle and ERP experts, conducting 77 interviews in three weeks and filling all roles ahead of schedule. Their success not only strengthened manager engagement but also set a new global standard for inclusive and strategic recruitment, reinforcing NPDL’s position as an industry leader. 

Danone Nutricia has won the Learning and Development Capability Award for its ShopFloor First initiative, a leadership-driven cultural transformation. In response to rising costs, reduced demand, and low engagement, this initiative empowered operators with the skills and confidence to take ownership of production quality and decision-making. 

Through servant leadership, hands-on coaching, technical training, and wellbeing programmes, operators developed the ability to proactively solve issues on the floor. The impact has been significant—80% engagement (+8 points), 88% intent to stay (+10 points above the sector average), 82% inclusion index (+10 points), and a 7-point increase in operational efficiency. 

dentsu Aotearoa has received the Diversity and Inclusion Award for its Authentically Led initiative, transforming a DEI committee into an employee-driven DEI Council. This shift ensured diverse voices lead efforts to foster belonging and equity. 

The council launched five communities—Māori and Pacific Islander, Rainbow, Neurodiverse, Early Careers, and Women at Work—providing advocacy and connection. The impact: 500% growth in membership, a 5-point rise in belonging scores, and an 11% increase in employees identifying as neurodiverse, cementing dentsu as a workplace that celebrates identity and inclusion.  

The Wellness Programme Award was awarded to DB Breweries for WholeMe, a wellbeing and DEI initiative supporting over 400 employees. Grounded in DB’s core value of care, WholeMe integrates development programmes, support services, and benefits across five wellbeing pillars: Internal, Mental, Physical, Social, and Financial. 

Over five years, it has boosted engagement, improving how employees feel valued, manage stress, balance work and life, and access career coaching. In 2023, WholeMe was recognised as a wellbeing best practice within the HEINEKEN global network, reinforcing DB as a healthier, safer workplace. 

Fonterra Co-operative Group has won the Future of Work Award for its Engineering++ SWAT initiative, addressing a critical engineering skills shortage. A dedicated SWAT team blending Engineering and People & Culture used a design-thinking approach to attract, retain, and develop talent. 

In just six months, they launched an engineering careers website, a targeted value proposition, and clear career pathways, boosting applications and diversity. This cost-effective, sustainable model has strengthened Fonterra’s engineering capability while fostering continuous improvement and innovation. 

The Building Sustainability through People Award went to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre for embedding sustainability into its culture and operations. Aligned with Christchurch’s redevelopment vision and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Te Pae set out to create a workplace where employees felt connected to a meaningful purpose. 

Sustainability drives every decision, shaping industry-leading operations and attracting top talent. With a strong focus on training, staff are empowered to contribute to sustainability goals, fostering collaboration across teams, clients, and suppliers. This commitment has led to major achievements, including Qualmark Gold, Toitū Gold and Net Carbon Zero certification (the world’s first convention centre to achieve this), as well as the Skål International Tourism Award.  

New Zealand Post has won the Organisational Change & Development Award for its Just Transition (JT) programme, created in partnership with E tū union to support employees through transformation.

Grounded in understanding, engagement, and empowerment, JT helps employees navigate change with confidence through workshops, capability-building initiatives, and life skills training (Level Up with JT). With participation rates of 87%–95%, the programme has driven a 4% reduction in absenteeism and a 15%–25% productivity improvement, ensuring NZ Post’s people are prepared for the future. 

To arrange interviews or for further information please contact Nikita Barends (HRNZ Senior Communications Advisor) at [email protected] or call 04 802 3954.