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NZATD Awards

Submissions are now CLOSED - thank you for being a part of this year's Awards!

Kia ora,

A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to enter the NZATD Awards 2026.

Each year we are inspired by the incredible mahi happening across the Learning and Development community in Aotearoa.

We’re excited to now move into the next stage of the Awards process.

Our judging panel will review submissions against the NZATD Competency Framework and award criteria, recognising excellence, impact, and innovation across the sector.

Timeline

1 - 21 June 2026Judging Period
22 - 28 June 2026Finalists Advised
26 July 2026

Early bird ticket sales for Gala Dinner End

 10 September 2026 Winners Announced at the 2026 Awards Gala Dinner

NZATD Awards Gala Dinner 

Celebrate with us at the Awards Gala Dinner

Join us in Auckland for a special evening celebrating the very best of Learning and Development in Aotearoa.

Whether you’re a finalist, supporter, or part of the wider L&D community, this is a night to connect, be inspired, and celebrate excellence.

When: Thursday 10 September, starting 6pm

Where: Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

Earlybird tickets are on sale NOW!

GET TICKETS

Waipuna Accommodation Discount Code

If you are interested in staying overnight at the Waipuna, add in the code NZATD26 to activate the a discount of 15% off their best available dynamic rate when you book direct with them.  Click here for more details:  www.waipunahotel.co.nz.


Our Sponsors

After an amazing 2025 Awards season, we are now on the look out for sponsors for our 2026 Awards season.

To join out amazing list of sponsors, download your copy our prospectus and get in touch!

Premier Partner


Category Partners





Like Minded



Individual Award Categories

L&D Practitioner of the Year

This award is presented to a long-standing practitioner who demonstrates best practice and to recognise the contributions, inspiration and guidance they provide to the L&D community.

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Criteria

  • Be employed in the L&D field for more than five years
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate high skill in the application of three Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, On-the-Job Training, Evaluation, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)
  • Demonstrate application of one NZATD value (Kotahitanga, Manaakitanga, Ako)

Emerging L&D Practitioner of the Year

This award is presented to a newer L&D practitioner to recognise the contributions they are making to the L&D community and encourage them to strive for best practice.

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Criteria

  • Be employed in the L&D field for less than two years
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate high skill in the application of one Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, On-the-Job Training, Evaluation, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)
  • Demonstrate application of one NZATD value (Kotahitanga, Manaakitanga, Ako)

L&D Team Member

This award is presented to an established L&D practitioner that works in a permanent or fixed term capacity, to recognise the contributions they are making to their organisation and the L&D community.

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Criteria

  • Be employed, in a permanent or fixed term capacity, in the field of L&D for more than two years
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate high skill in the application of two Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, On-the-Job Training, Evaluation, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)
  • Demonstrate application of one NZATD value (Kotahitanga, Manaakitanga, Ako)

L&D Consultant

This award is presented to an L&D practitioner that work in a consultancy capacity to recognise the contributions they are making to the L&D community.

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Criteria

  • Provided contract L&D services for at least two years
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate high skill in the application of two Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, On-the-Job Training, Evaluation, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)
  • Demonstrate application of one NZATD value (Kotahitanga, Manaakitanga, Ako)

L&D Manager

This award is presented to an outstanding L&D manager to recognise the contributions, inspiration and guidance they provide to their team and the L&D community.

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Criteria

  • Be employed in an L&D manager role or lead a team of at least two people in the L&D field
  • Demonstrate application of one Learning Leader Competency (Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key business stakeholders, develop and maintain effective L&D reporting systems, plan and oversee the L&D project lifecycle)
  • Demonstrate application of one NZATD value (Kotahitanga, Manaakitanga, Ako)

L&D Strategist

This award is presented to an L&D practitioner working at a more strategic level within the field of L&D, who provides inspiration, guidance and insight.

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Criteria

  • Report directly to CE or contracts to provide L&D Strategic Services to an organisation
  • Demonstrate application of two Learning Strategist Competencies (Provides input into business strategy at Executive and Board level through learning lens, develops cases for strategic L&D initiatives, champions L&D with strategic stakeholders manage the delivery of learning at the enterprise level and manage strategic learning initiatives to support organisational talent management)
  • Demonstrate application of one NZATD value (Kotahitanga, Manaakitanga, Ako)

Initiative Award Categories

Best Induction or Onboarding programme

This award is presented to an organisation, company or individual to recognise best practice in bringing new employees into an organisation.

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Criteria

  • Relates to a programme designed to provide new employees with the skills and knowledge they require to be job ready
  • Demonstrate an innovative use of resources within project budget
  • Demonstrate consideration or integration of diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate considered, actual or planned application of the Specialist Competency Evaluation
  • Demonstrate application of three other Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, Coaching, On-the-Job Training, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)

Best Compliance Learning Programme

This award is presented to an organisation, company or individual to recognise innovative, engaging and excellent compliance learning.

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Criteria

  • Relates to a nationally recognised compliance topic
  • Demonstrate an innovative use of resources within project budget
  • Demonstrate consideration or integration of diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate high level of application of the Specialist Competency Assessment
  • Demonstrate application of one other Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Evaluation, Coaching, On-the-Job Training, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)

Best Transformation Programme

This award is presented to an organisation, company or individual to recognise success in delivering transformation learning.

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Criteria

  • Relate to a programme of work that includes organisation transformation
  • Demonstrate an innovative use of resources within project budget
  • Demonstrate consideration or integration of diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate considered, actual or planned application of the Specialist Competency Evaluation
  • Demonstrate application of one other Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, Coaching, On-the-Job Training, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)

Best Leadership Development Programme

This award is presented to an organisation, company or individual to recognise implementation of a leadership development programme to positively impact organisational performance and culture.

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Criteria

  • Relates to a programme designed to equip leaders with the skills they need to succeed
  • Demonstrate an innovative use of resources within project budget
  • Demonstrate consideration or integration of diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate considered, actual or planned application of the Specialist Competency Evaluation
  • Demonstrate application of one other Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, Coaching, On-the-Job Training, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)

Best Skills-based Learning Project

This award is presented to an organisation, company or individual to recognise their contribution to the ongoing development of their employees through skills-based training.

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Criteria

  • Relates to a project designed to provide employees with new or updated skills relevant to their role
  • Demonstrate an innovative use of resources within project budget
  • Demonstrate consideration or integration of diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate considered, actual or planned application of the Specialist Competency Evaluation
  • Demonstrate application of one other Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, Coaching, On-the-Job Training, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)

Best Online Learning Project

This award is presented to an organisation, company or individual to recognise innovative, engaging and excellent online learning.

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Criteria

  • Relates to learning delivered solely through an online platform
  • Demonstrate an innovative use of resources within project budget
  • Demonstrate consideration or integration of diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrate application of the Core Competencies (Adult Learning Principles and Learning and Development Practice)
  • Demonstrate considered, actual or planned application of the Specialist Competency Evaluation
  • Demonstrate application of one other Specialist Competencies (Instructional Design, Assessment, Coaching, On-the-Job Training, eLearning, Facilitation, Informal/Social Learning)

Need help?


Previous winners

See our winners from previous years!

New Zealand Association for Training and Development (NZATD)

Address: P O Box 9319, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240

Phone:  021 794 277

Email:  nzatd@nzatd.org.nz

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