About the Honours Awards
Nominations have opened for the 2025 ISNZ Honours Awards. These will be presented at the Conference Dinner at the ISNZ Annual Conference on Friday 12 September, which is to be held at Tākina Wellington Convention and Events Centre.
The awards have been running for over 25 years and approximately 250 member school staff have received one. The awards aim to inspire members through recognition and celebration of innovation and excellence to ensure our schools remain at the forefront of educational best practice and achievement outcomes.
Who is the ideal recipient for an ISNZ Honours Award?
The ISNZ Honours Awards recognise the wide range of roles that contribute to the success of Independent Schools, including:
• Teachers
• Pastoral care / Deans / Counsellors
• Sports/ Performing Arts
• Leadership roles / Senior Managers
• Boarding staff
• International Education
• Administration and Support staff
• Education Outside the Classroom
• Development/ Alumni / Fund Raising / Advancement
• Finance/ Property / Business Managers
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for an award, nominees must:
• Have a minimum of five years’ service at an ISNZ Member School.
• Be full or part-time employees.
• Be an individual (entries for groups, teams or partnerships are not eligible).
• Not be the Head or Principal of the School who reports directly to the Board.
A maximum of ten awards will be granted in any given year, with no more than two recipients from any one school. Previous winners may not be re-nominated for the same category of award.
What attributes are we looking for?
The awards will recognise nominees who:
• Demonstrate outstanding service to their school in their field of expertise.
• Consistently demonstrate a commitment to excellence, delivering high-quality contributions that surpass expectations.
• Have a positive impact on the lives of students and are a role model for students and staff.
• Are committed to the values of independent education.
• Demonstrate commitment and engagement with the wider community beyond the school gates.
Application Guidelines
Applications are made by Principals or senior staff on behalf of the school.
Selection Panel
This year's selection panel is comprised of Guy Pascoe, Chief Executive, ISNZ, Peter Cassie, Board Chair, ISNZ Board and Christine Leighton, Deputy Chair, ISNZ Board.
Key dates
Nominations for the Honours Awards close on 11 July 2025 with the Selection Panel meeting on 21 July 2025. Schools and award recipients will be notified by 28 July 2025 and the awards will be presented at the Conference Dinner on Friday 12 September 2025.
