The 2026 New Zealand Mortgage Awards 

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Industry excellence celebrated on its biggest stage

The 2026 New Zealand Mortgage Awards honoured the nation’s standout advisers, showcasing innovation, excellence and the individuals shaping the future of its mortgage industry.

The New Zealand mortgage industry came together in style recently for the 2026 New Zealand Mortgage Awards, with a packed room of advisers, lenders, aggregators and service providers gathering to recognise excellence across one of the country’s most dynamic financial sectors. 

Held in a new, larger venue to match rising demand, the event delivered an evening of celebration and connection, reflecting a profession that continues to grow in both capability and influence.  

Aaron Skilton, Chief Executive Officer at premium event sponsor Liberty, said the expanded scale of the awards was a clear sign of the industry’s strength. 

“It was awesome to need a bigger room due to ticket demand,” he said. “The increased numbers made the evening really loud and busy, but that is certainly a good problem to have!” 

Skilton said the mood on the night reflected an industry that has plenty to be proud of, especially after several years of shifting market conditions. 

“Our industry is thriving, the evening was all about celebration, and there was a genuine collective appreciation of everyone’s contributions throughout the year,” he said. “It’s nice to occasionally take the time to reflect and celebrate.” 

He also noted that the calibre of winners continues to rise year after year, reinforcing the increasing professionalism of the advice sector. 

“Our industry is in a strong place. More Kiwi are seeking quality financial advice, and they are increasingly looking to us to provide it. The consistent increase in the quality of both the nominees and winners is testament to how the industry is lifting standards to match the expectations of New Zealanders,” Skilton said. 

“Liberty has been thrilled to be event partner for the last three years, and we continue to be committed to working with Key Media to establish the NZMA Awards evening as the big event of the year.” 
 

Jenny Campbell, Country Manager for New Zealand at Finsure, said the strong turnout and sold-out nature of the awards sent a clear signal about the confidence and unity within the sector. 

“The bigger space above the Auckland War Memorial Museum was such a distinct space that not many people had been in, which made the event feel upmarket and special. And it showed a very clear message that the mortgage advice profession is going from strength to strength,” Campbell said.  

Helen Nguyen, Managing Director at Blossum, also described the venue as an important step forward for the awards and the wider industry. 

“This year’s New Zealand Mortgage Awards felt like a step change for the industry,” she said, “not just in scale but in professionalism and energy, reflecting the growth and maturity of the mortgage sector and creating a more premium environment for meaningful conversations and networking.” 
 

Beyond the setting, the highlight of the evening remained the recognition of individuals and businesses delivering exceptional results across the mortgage and finance landscape. 

Campbell said one of the most valuable parts of the awards is hearing directly from those recognised. 

“It’s always great to hear from the winners of each category,” she said. “It’s inspiring to hear their stories and to celebrate their successes.” 

Adrienne Begbie, Managing Director at Prospa New Zealand, echoed that sentiment, noting that the standard across all categories was high. 

“All winners were well deserved, so it was great to see them celebrated!” she said. 

Begbie added that the night was especially meaningful for Prospa, which was recognised with an award. 

“We were very fortunate to win our own award, which the team was delighted about,” she said. 

For Skilton, one of the standout moments of the evening was seeing Charlotte Ireland recognised as Aggregator BDM of the Year. 

“I was really excited and proud to see Charlotte Ireland win Aggregator BDM of the Year,” Skilton said. “Charlotte is a special human, and it’s always wonderful to see the best acknowledged by their peers.” 

Ryan Devillers, Head of Growth at Success & Adviser, said it was equally rewarding to see Success & Adviser clients recognised, highlighting the value of long-term partnerships and support. 

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see businesses we’ve started to work closely with, like our clients at CM Advisers, achieve that level of success,” Devillers said. 

For Nguyen, the pinnacle of the evening was the diversity of winners across advisers, lenders and service providers – one of the strongest signals of how the industry is evolving. 

“It highlighted how innovation, client-centric thinking and resilience continue to drive performance, even in a more challenging lending environment.”
 

A recurring theme from sponsors was the importance of having an event that brings the entire mortgage ecosystem together in one place, without being tied to a single brand, lender or aggregator. 

Campbell said that aspect makes the awards unique.  

“We don’t have many opportunities to network as a collective industry. Most awards evenings are usually limited to your own group or brand,” Campbell said. “This event is the only non-partisan celebration of our industry as a whole – advisers, supporters, aggregators and lenders all celebrating together.” 

Begbie agreed. “It’s a great event that’s product or aggregator agnostic; it’s just about the industry and celebrating successes,” she said. 

Devillers, whose business has expanded into New Zealand from Australia, said the awards highlighted how strong and interconnected the local market is. 

“We were so impressed by how interconnected the industry in NZ is,” he said. “This is a relatively new market for Success & Adviser, but what is clear is that once trust is built, it becomes the backbone of your business.” 

Nguyen said the event reinforced a similar message – that collaboration remains one of the industry’s greatest strengths. 

“The biggest takeaway was the strength of relationships in this industry,” she said. “Despite market cycles, the mortgage sector in New Zealand remains highly collaborative, and that’s a key driver of its resilience and continued growth.” 
 

Many attendees also saw the awards as a snapshot of where the mortgage advice profession is heading over the next one to two years. From diversification of services to increasing demand for specialist lending, the conversations throughout the night reflected a sector actively adapting to borrower needs. 

Nguyen said she expects a continued shift towards specialised lending solutions, with speed and flexibility becoming even more important. 

“We’re seeing a clear movement towards more specialised lending solutions and faster execution,” she said. "Borrowers are demanding it, and advisers are increasingly looking for lending partners who can move quickly and think commercially.” 

She believes this will support the continued growth of alternative lending markets. “I expect continued growth in non-bank and private credit lending, particularly in areas like second mortgages and short-term structured finance,” Nguyen said. 

Begbie also pointed to a growing trend of advisers expanding their offering beyond traditional home loans, as clients seek broader financial support. 

“I think the mortgage industry is going to continue to be busy; it’s a competitive market out there,” Begbie said. “Other finance products too are busy and growing, and more advisers are diversifying their product offering to their customers while doing the mortgage, also looking at their business needs, asset lending, investment, etc.” 

Devillers believes that advisers who invest in deeper relationships and client experience will stand out as competition continues to increase. 

“Over the next 12 to 24 months, we think the advisers who will continue to succeed are those investing in client experience beyond the initial transaction,” he said. “With increasing competition and the ongoing influence of technology, differentiation will come down to trust and connection.” 

From the atmosphere on arrival to the final awards announced on stage, the tone of the 2026 New Zealand Mortgage Awards was clear: the mortgage advice industry is thriving, and the appetite to celebrate success as a collective has never been stronger.