te mana kiwi - awards eligibility & criteria

general eligibility

The Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx Awards are open to individuals and groups who demonstrate excellence aligned with the purpose of these awards.

  • Awards are open to both members and non-members of SPPEEx

  • Nominees may be individuals or groups, where relevant to the award category

  • Nominees must be currently active in, or have made a demonstrable contribution to the engineering profession

  • Contributions may be technical, leadership, cultural, or community-based in nature

tangata whenua & tagata o le moana - eligibility

  • Tangata Whenua awards are intended for individuals who whakapapa Māori and whose work reflects a commitment to advancing te ao Māori within engineering.

  • Tagata o le Moana awards are intended for individuals of Pacific heritage whose work reflects a commitment to advancing Pacific peoples, values, and worldviews within engineering.

  • A nominee who has whakapapa Māori and Pasifika heritage may be entered into both the Tangata Whenua and Tagata o le Moana categories

    • However, a nominee cannot receive an award in both categories for the same award tier, either in the same year or in subsequent years. For example, a recipient of the Emerging (Future) Award in one category cannot later receive the Emerging (Future) Award in the other category.

    • A nominee may, however, receive awards across different tiers over time (e.g. Emerging, Current, Legacy), and may be recognised under different categories across those tiers. For example, a recipient may receive the Emerging (Future) Award as Tangata Whenua, later receive the Current (Present) Award as Tagata o le Moana, and subsequently receive the Legacy (Past) Award as Tangata Whenua

  • Nominees should demonstrate an authentic and sustained connection to their respective communities and cultural contexts.

emerging (future) award specific eligibility

  • Nominees should generally be early-career professionals, typically under 30 years of age or within approximately the first 10 years of their engineering career.

  • Consideration may be given to individuals outside these parameters where their career pathway or entry into engineering reflects non-traditional routes.

  • Nominees must demonstrate clear future potential and trajectory.

te kahu o te wai (tangata whenua)

  • Demonstrated leadership potential and initiative

  • Demonstrated skill, innovation, or excellence in early career projects.

  • Active promotion or integration of Māori values, language, or knowledge.

  • Involvement in outreach, education, industry or community-based engineering efforts.

  • Evidence of continued development and future promise.

tagata o le moana (fa’ataumua-ava)

  • Demonstrated leadership potential and initiative

  • Demonstrated skill, innovation, or excellence in early career projects.

  • Active promotion or integration of Pasifika values, language, or knowledge.

  • Involvement in outreach, education, industry or community-based engineering efforts.

  • Evidence of continued development and future promise.

Current (present) award specific eligibility

  • Nominees must be actively contributing to the engineering profession at a recognised level of leadership or influence

  • Nominees must be ineligible for the Emerging (Future) Award

  • There is no age restriction; however, nominees will typically have more than 10 years’ experience and a demonstrated record of contribution to engineering

  • Nominees must demonstrate current and sustained impact, including leadership and influence for Tangata Whenua and/or Tagata o le Moana

tangata whenua (te ngaru whakateo)

  • Demonstrated influence on projects, policy, or professional practice, with clear evidence of measurable outcomes or sector impact.

  • Active leadership for the advancement of te ao Māori

  • Role modelling and leadership within the engineering profession.

  • Evidence of introducing or leading new approaches, ideas, or systems that drive innovation, transformation, or systemic change.

tagata o le moana (tautai moana)

  • Demonstrated influence on projects, policy, or professional practice, with clear evidence of measurable outcomes or sector impact.

  • Active leadership for the advancement of Pasifika

  • Role modelling and leadership within the engineering profession.

  • Evidence of introducing or leading new approaches, ideas, or systems that drive innovation, transformation, or systemic change.

legacy (past) award specific eligibility

  • Nominees must demonstrate a sustained career of significant contribution to engineering, typically 25 years or more

  • This award is generally conferred on individuals with long-standing influence, leadership, and enduring impact for Tangata Whenua and/or Tagata o le Moana

  • Posthumous nominations may be considered at the discretion of SPPEEx.

tangata whenua (Tētēkura)

  • Extent to which the candidate has shaped the profession over their career.

  • Depth and breadth of technical expertise demonstrated through projects, publications, or innovations.

  • How the candidate has embedded and advanced te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori, or tikanga into their professional practice.

  • Evidence of mentoring others, especially Māori professionals, and influencing industry standards or practices.

  • Awards, citations, or peer recognition that validate their contributions.

tagata o le moana (fa’atonu folau)

  • Extent to which the candidate has shaped the profession over their career.

  • Depth and breadth of technical expertise demonstrated through projects, publications, or innovations.

  • How the candidate has embedded and advanced Pasifika (including indigenous knowledge, or customs, protocols, into their professional practice

  • Evidence of mentoring others, especially Pasifika professionals, and influencing industry standards or practices.

  • Awards, citations, or peer recognition that validate their contributions.

nomiNATION REQUIREMENTS

Nominations may be submitted by:

  • Peers, colleagues, or employers

  • Professional organisations or community groups

  • Self-nominations

Each nomination must include:

  • A completed nomination form

  • A cover letter, including a personal statement

  • A professional CV tailored to the nomination

  • Supporting statement(s) addressing the relevant criteria

  • Referees and/or endorsements, where applicable

  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), where applicable

  • Any additional supporting evidence relevant to the nomination

Nomination to be submitted:

  • All Nominations shall be submitted to SPPEEx via the Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx

    Awards Committee

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Deadline for Nomination Submission

  • All nomination forms must be submitted no later than five weeks prior to the awards

    ceremony.

Nominee’s Consent

  • Upon selection, the successful nominee will be notified by the Committee within one

    month prior to the awards ceremony.

nomination form