
NZSL Awards
2022
NZSL Champion: Amber Shaw, NZSL4U
Maori Champion: Tina Brightwell
Youth Champion: Annabel MacKay
NZSL Accessible Service Award: Stacy Silich and Grant Mitchell – John Rhind Funeral Directors
NZSL Interpreter of the Year: SLIANZ on behalf of all interpreters
NZSL in Media: Deaf Wellbeing Society
NZSL Employer: Catholic Diocese of Auckland
NZSL Teaching: Pam Croskery
NZSL in Schools: Ebbet Park School
NZSL in Arts: Tim Bray Theatre
NZSL in Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
NZSL in Sports: David Brown
NZSL in Health: Jo Witko
NZSL Local Champions:
- Auckland: Rachel Rasmussen
- Bay of Plenty: Stephanie Rorison
- Hawkes’ Bay: Nora Kirikri
- Wellington: Darryl Alexander
- Canterbury: Debra Jamieson
2020
View NZSL Awards 2020 videos here.
NZSL Accessible Service Award: Kordia
NZSL Interpreters: The COVID 6: Alan Wendt, Jenn Gilbert, Wenda Walton, Rosie Henley, Melissa Sutton, and Angela Murray
NZSL in Media: Merge NZ
NZSL Employer: Garage Project
NZSL Teaching: Jackie Davidson
NZSL in Early Childhood Education: St Kilda Kindergarten
NZSL in Arts: Monari Falepeau
NZSL in the Community: Lee Bullivant
NZSL in Government: NEMA
Youth Champion: Benazir Black
NZSL Champion: Deaf Wellbeing Society
Maori Champion: Eric Matthews
Supreme Long-standing Service Award: Royce Flynn
Supreme Long-standing Service Award: Jennifer & Ken Brain
Supreme Long-standing Service Award: Hemi Hema
Supreme Long-standing Service Award: Graham & Pat Lines
2018
NZSL in the Media: Sara Pivac Alexander, Learn NZSL
NZSL in Health: Natasha Jumelet, Deaf Wellbeing Society
NZSL in Early Childhood Education: Joint winners, Bridget Warmouth and Casa Nova Kindergarten
NZSL in Schools: Redwood Primary School
NZSL Employer: Andy Firth, Paul Kelly Motors
NZSL Teaching: Susie Ovens
NZSL Accessible Service: Coffee Educators Ltd
Interpreter of the Year: Angela Murray
NZSL in Sports: Clive Morgan
NZSL in Arts: Laura Haughey, Equal Voices
NZSL in Government Agencies: Nick Linton, Fire and Emergency NZ
Supreme Long-standing Service Award: Lynette Pivac
Supreme Long-standing Service Award: Lesley Carmichael
Youth Champion: Katherine Hickson
Māori Champion: Jared Flitcroft
NZSL Champion: Josje Lelijveld
2016
NZSL in Schools: St Theresa’s School, Plimmerton
NZSL Employer: CQ Hotels Wellington
NZSL in the Media: Lisa Thompson
NZSL in Health: Rachel Coppage, CDMHP
NZSL Teaching: Nirvana May
NZSL Accessible Service: CQ Hotels Wellington
NZSL Interpreter of the Year: Scott Williams
NZSL in Early Childhood Education: Yoshie Akasaka
Youth Champion: Matthew Flynn
Maori Champion: Joanne Klaver
NZSL Champion: Stephen Hooker
2015
NZSL Teaching Award: Karla Smith
NZSL in ECE Award: Hillpark Kindergarten
NZSL in Schools Award: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Ruanui
NZSL in the Media Award: Pickled Possum Productions
Magnet Youth Award: Eric Matthew
Maori Sign Champion Award: Patrick Thompson
NZSL in Health Award: Health Promotion Agency
NZSL Employer Award: Co-Ed Educators and Coffee Shop
NZSL Accessible Service Award: Auckland Council
NZSL Interpreter of the Year Award: Lynx
NZSL Champion Award: TeachSign Project Team
2014
NZSL Champions Award: Victoria Manning
NZSL Māori Sign Champion Award: Michael Wi
NZSL Accessible Service Award: Russell Smith, Lifestyle Choices
NZSL in Early Childhood Education Award: Doris Nicholson Kindergarten
NZSL Employer Award: Victoria University Wellington, Grant Guildford
NZSL in Health Award: Wally Potts Audiology, Kenepuru Hospital
NZSL Interpreter of the Year Award: Kelly Hodgins
NZSL in the Media Award: Attitude Pictures
NZSL in Schools Award: Sacred Heart Catholic School
NZSL Teaching Award: Carol Smith
Magnet Deaf Youth Award: Emma Paton
2013
NZSL Champion Award: Sonia Pivac, Sign DNA
NZSL Accessible Service Award: Veolia Transport Auckland
NZSL Employer Award: An Extra Pair of Hands, Palmerston North
NZSL Interpreter of the Year Award: Angela Murray, Wellington
NZSL in the Media Award: TIKI TOUR by Flux Animation and Pickled Possum Productions
NZSL in Schools Award: Shirley First Learners, Christchurch
NZSL Teaching Award: Darryl Alexander, Wellington
Magnet Deaf Youth Award: Rachel Berry, Christchurch
2012
NZSL Champion Award and NZSL in Teaching Award: David McKee, Wellington
NZSL Accessible Award: Masterpet, Wellington
NZSL Interpreter of the Year Award: Julie Coxhead, Auckland
NZSL Public Service Award: Hutt City Council
NZSL In Schools Award: St Johns School, Ranfurly and Tauranga Intermediate
Magnet Youth Award: Mark Berry, Wellington
2011
NZSL Champion Award: Lee Ann Rose
Interpreter of the Year Award: Evelyn Pateman and Jeremy Borland (joint winners)
Māori Signs Champion Award: Bonnie Ormsby
NZSL In Schools Award: Titahi Bay School
NZSL Teaching Award: Kay Hunia
Public Service Award: New Zealand Fire Service
NZSL Accessible Award: Tiaho Trust
2010
NZSL Champion Award: Bridget Ferguson
Interpreter of the Year Award: Alan Wendt
Māori Signs Champion Award: No entries received
NZSL In Schools Award: Paparoa Ranges School
NZSL Teaching Award: Lisa Shand (New Plymouth)
Public Service Award: Constable Deborah Leahy, New Zealand Police
NZSL Accessible Award: The Learning Connexion, Wellington
2009
NZSL Champion Award: Brent Macpherson
Interpreter of the Year Award: Delys Magill
Māori Signs Champion Award: Richard Peri
NZSL In Schools Award: St Pius X School
NZSL Teaching Award: Sara Pivac Alexander
Public Service Award: Christchurch City Council
NZSL Accessible Award: Department of Conservation (Blenheim)
South Island award winners
Interpreter of the Year Award: Elisabeth Kay
NZSL In Schools Award: Garin College
NZSL Teaching Award: Carol Smith
Service awards
Special recognition of three key people who have given considerable commitment and passion to the advancement of NZSL within NZ were awarded these awards:
Long Standing Service Award – North Island: Shona McGhie
Long Standing Service Award – South Island: Patty Still
Supreme Long Standing Service Award: Rachel McKee