The 2025 New Zealand Mortgage Awards

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Mortgage sector's top performers take the spotlight

It was that time of year again – when the lights dimmed, the spotlight shone, and New Zealand’s top mortgage professionals took centre stage. The New Zealand Mortgage Awards 2025 delivered an unforgettable evening, recognising and celebrating the remarkable individuals and organisations that continue to turn homeownership dreams into reality, every single day.

Held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum and organised by NZ Adviser, the event recognised excellence across the full spectrum of mortgage services, from frontline advisers to innovators, lenders and top-performing individuals. The event hosted industry professionals from all over the country, from Auckland locals to those flying in from Christchurch and Dunedin.

The 2025 awards would not have been possible without the generous support of its sponsors. Many were familiar names at these celebrations, and their insights reminded us of what makes this industry so extraordinary.

Mark Nolan, Business Development Manager at event sponsor Avanti Finance, highlighted the difficult situations that advisers so often have to deal with.

“Advisers have a tough job, and they’re often working with customers that have challenging circumstances and situations,” Nolan said. “Events like this showcase the best operators and the top people in the industry, and we’re really pleased to be able to take part.”

Kiwi Adviser Network’s Warwick Slow, winner of the Bizcap Best Aggregator BDM award, noted that most adviser businesses are small, or are sole traders. This makes opportunities for recognition and celebration all the more valuable.

“Most businesses in this industry are small; something like 80% of us have one to five advisers,” Slow said. “Having these types of awards is important for us to get recognition and showcase the talent that we have, and I’m really proud of the work that advisers do every day.”

Customer service was another key theme of the night. Craig Rolls, head of lending at Basecorp Finance, said it’s something both advisers and lenders rely on to build trust and deliver results.

“Customer service forms a key part of both an adviser’s proposition and our own,” Rolls said. “We’re thrilled to highlight advisers who have demonstrated consistently high levels of customer service in support of their clients’ property ownership aspirations.”

Camilla Tumai, General Manager at Bizcap New Zealand, spoke about the work BDMs are doing behind the scenes and why it matters more than ever.

“The Best Aggregator BDM category highlights the vital role BDMs play in supporting advisers and driving industry excellence,” Tumai said. “Recognising their efforts is an important step in strengthening the mortgage sector, contributing to homeownership and economic growth across New Zealand.”

Josh Bronkhorst, CEO of Link Financial Group, echoed that sentiment, saying advisers rely on their BDMs to help navigate shifting market conditions.

“BDMs provide crucial support,” he said. “Their expertise helps advisers stay informed and navigate complexities so they can focus on great outcomes for Kiwi homeowners.”

Aggregators also had their moment in the spotlight. FAMNZ’s Leigh Hodgetts said their role is about giving advisers the tools to succeed, whether that’s technology, compliance support or just being someone to call.

“Aggregators are a really important part of the whole process in creating good customer outcomes,” Hodgetts said. “Events like this bring a lot of people together who may not be able to do so that often.”

Pernell Callaghan, Managing Director at Finbase, spoke about the importance of celebrating top performance on the lending side.

“The Lender of the Year award highlights the industry’s top performer,” Callaghan said. “We’re proud to help celebrate their achievements.”

There was a real sense of momentum across the room. Jenny Campbell, Country Manager at Finsure NZ, said the awards were a great way to reflect on how far the industry had come.

“I love to see all the talent coming through,” Campbell said. “It’s such a vibrant and wonderful industry, and these guys are all at the top of their game. We want to uplift everybody, and we want to show New Zealand the importance of working with a good adviser.”

Recognising emerging talent was another major part of the event. Paul Bendall, CEO of First Mortgage Trust, said he was proud to support the New Adviser of the Year award.

“Celebrating exceptional emerging talent is vital for the industry’s future,” Bendall said. “It’s important to recognise those making impressive strides early in their careers.”

That theme of long-term impact carried through to Liberty NZ, sponsor of the Adviser of the Year award. General Manager Igor Stychinsky said the adviser role remains central to the company’s values.

“Advisers are at the heart of the NZ mortgage industry and have been central to Liberty since day one,” Stychinsky said.

“We’re proud to sponsor the Adviser of the Year award and acknowledge those contributing to the bright future of this industry.”

Baden Martin, CEO of NZFSG, spoke about the changing face of the client base and the growing need for flexible options.

Martin said the role of non-bank BDMs “is increasingly significant in today’s market. They empower mortgage advisers with practical, tailored solutions for clients who don’t fit the traditional lending criteria of banks”.

That sense of purpose and adaptability was also highlighted by Campbell Smith, Country Head at Pepper New Zealand, who spoke about the value of resilience.

“Advisers have remained unwavering in their commitment to guiding their clients through the economic conditions and ensuring their success,” Smith said. “We’re proud to honour the top residential advisers who have turned the dream of homeownership into a reality for countless individuals and families.”

Other sponsors also used the night to reflect on progress across the sector. Adrienne Begbie, Managing Director NZ at Prospa, said the brokerage categories showed just how far some firms had come in a short time.

“We are proud to support an event that celebrates excellence and innovation in the sector,” Begbie said.

And Daniel McGrath, CEO of Xceda, said regional advice businesses continue to make a big impact – often with fewer resources.

“Trusted financial service providers are so important for regional customers,” McGrath said, “which is why we are so pleased to sponsor the 2025 Regional Financial Adviser award.”