Current Awards

2025 Awards

The finalists for the 2025 National Awards are listed below. These are the nominees put forward by each region, in some cases selected from several nominations received.

A panel of judges will now vote to determine the winners in each category. The results will be announced at the National Tournament and published on this page shortly afterwards.

Gup Student of the Year

Auckland North: Richard Jagape (Warrior)
Counties Manukau: Helen Khiev (Paul M Papakura)
Midlands: No nominations received
Central Region: No nominations received
Wellington: Chris Choong (Berhampore)
South Island: No nominations received

Dan Student of the Year

Auckland North: Wei Loong Cheng (Jungshin Glenfield)
Counties Manukau: Carmen Yip (Paul M Papakura)
Midlands: Oliver Nasr (Hwa Rang Tauranga)
Central Region: No nominations received
Wellington: Sam Young (Khandallah)
South Island: No nominations received

Instructor of the Year

Auckland North: Matthew Davey (Jungshin Glenfield)
Counties Manukau: Master Mahesh Bhana (Eastern ITF Pakuranga)
Midlands: No nominations received
Central Region: No nominations received
Wellington: Andy Wong (Legacy)
South Island: No nominations received

Club of the Year

Auckland North: Warrior
Counties Manukau: Paul M Papakura
Midlands: No nominations received
Central Region: No nominations received
Wellington: Khandallah
South Island: No nominations received

Sports Person of the Year

Auckland North:
Counties Manukau: DJ Iotua (Paul M Papakura)
Midlands: No nominations received
Central Region: No nominations received
Wellington: Hayley Young (Khandallah)
South Island: No nominations received

Junior Sports person of the Year

Auckland North: Kevin Edwards (Warrior)
Counties Manukau: Eden Childs (Paul M Papakura)
Midlands:
Central Region:
Wellington: Nina Ross (Khandallah)
South Island:

Outstanding Official of the year

Awarded by the Tournament Panel

Each region nominates a single entrant for the following awards.

Dan Student Criteria

Participation in events, regionally and nationally, as a competitor or official
Achievements in gradings and/or tournaments
Contribution to their club eh instructing, administration etc
Contribution to the greater community, if any, like outside interests or community service etc
Other relevant achievements

Gup Student Criteria

Grading results over the past year
Attendance at events
Qualifications gained
Contribution to the greater community if any, like outside interests or community service etc
Other relevant achievements

Instructor Criteria

Grading results of students averaged out
All instructor qualifications current
Instructors personal achievements/changes for the year if any

Club Criteria

Club growth/changes (Difference between registered members previous Awards year)
Student achievements/attendance at any event, including camps and tournaments
Supporting Community, Social and environmental initiatives through club participation.

Junior Sports person

This category is based on competition results at regional events, prior year Nationals, Stars Series and international placing.

Sports person

This category is based on competition results at regional events, prior year Nationals, Stars Series and international placing.

Nominations

Each Region will nominate one person for each available category that is not the sole responsibility of an advisory group or Board. Regions may only nominate one person per category.

Regional Directors are responsible for managing the nominations process. It is up to the regions to decide how nominations will be received.

Regions can determine the final voting process to select their category nominations.

The dates for each nomination period will be from the 1st of April the previous year to the 31st March of the current year. Any other information included will not be considered as part of the nomination.

Each Region’s nominations shall include a description of each category nominee’s achievements, being no longer than three paragraphs and include a digital head and shoulders photo of the nominee.

Award Briefs