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Nomination process
There are five EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award categories that have been established to recognise New Zealand’s best entrepreneurs.
Products - Nominees in this category are retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers of products from all industries.
Services - These entrepreneurs are providers of professional services e.g. financial, engineering, architecture, real estate, property, recreation and leisure.
Technology & Emerging Industries - Nominees who run businesses within software, hardware, telecommunications, digital media, biotechnology or health sciences industries.
Young - Entrepreneurs 35 years or younger (Thursday 18 June 2026) across all industries are eligible for this category.
Master - A category designed for leaders of well-established businesses that have made a significant commitment to entrepreneurship.
Criteria for eligibility
- To be eligible for the programme, you must:
- Be a company founder, owner or manager of a private or public company or organisation who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company or organisation, and an active member of senior management
- Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- Have a significant equity stake in the business
- Have a company that has been in existence for at least two years at close of applications, Thursday 18 June 2026.
Judging critera
The independent judging panel considers each entrepreneur finalist against the following criteria, developed and used globally in country Entrepreneur Of The Year programmes as well as EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year. The four criteria are a balanced scorecard.
Judging Criteria
Entrepreneurial spirit
How bold and resilient is the entrepreneur’s mindset and journey?
- Sees opportunities others miss, whether solving real problems, reimagining what’s possible or creating new value that drives growth and innovation
- Takes bold personal and business risks, learns from experience and shares their journey, motivations, and challenges overcome
- Demonstrates resilience, creativity and determination to overcome significant challenges
- Cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset and culture that inspires innovation and action within the organisation
Purpose
What values drive the entrepreneur and their vision for the future?
- Leads with a clear purpose – personal and business – focused on why the business exists, who it serves and the difference it aims to make
- Innovates in ways that prioritize long-term value for various stakeholders including people, planet and business
- Builds trust by staying true to mission and values, even in uncertain times
- Champions inclusive leadership and builds a culture that aligns strategy with core values and vision
Impact
What real-world positive difference is the entrepreneur making?
- Serves customers in ways that meaningfully improve lives, communities or industries
- Builds inclusive teams and creates access to resources and opportunities for all individuals, recognising differing needs and experiences
- Introduces new or improved solutions that create lasting benefit for people, markets or society.
- Helps protect, restore or regenerate the environment for future generations
Growth
How is the entrepreneur scaling their business and preparing for future growth?
- Demonstrates consistent growth in financial performance, operational viability and return on equity while scaling the business responsibly
- Develops strong, adaptable teams and expands the customer base, leveraging a range of skills, experiences and perspectives
- Uses innovation, new approaches, and technology to lead, improve and evolve their industry
- Creates an agile, resilient business that delivers long-term value for all stakeholders
EY Contacts
National
Jason Macgregor
Program Director
Tel: +64 274 899 504
Rebecca Seymour-East
Program Manager
Tel: +27 687 8977