Black-tie gala dinner, 21 categories, nominations now open for 2027
Nominations for the New Zealand Mortgage Awards 2027 are officially open, and this year's event is getting a serious upgrade: NZMA2027 is stepping up from last year's cocktail-style format to a full black-tie gala dinner.
A bigger night for the industry's biggest names
Presented by NZ Adviser, the awards will be held on Thursday 11 March 2027 at Cordis Auckland. The move to a gala dinner is one of the biggest changes to the event in recent years. Guests can expect a more formal, celebratory evening that matches the calibre of talent on show. Fittingly for a bigger night, the evening will be hosted by Matty McLean, co-host of The Hits Drive and former Breakfast presenter.
The New Zealand Mortgage Awards is an independent programme that recognises the country's top advisers, brokerages, aggregators, lenders, BDMs and service providers. It rewards their achievements, best practice and leadership over the previous 12 months. For the finalists and winners, a win is a mark of distinction that raises their profile across the industry.
21 categories, one chance to be recognised
The awards span 21 categories across three groups:
- Individual categories: Pepper Money Adviser of the Year – Residential, Adviser of the Year – Xceda Specialist Lending, Adviser of the Year – Regional, Spinnaker Capital Commercial Mortgage Adviser of the Year, First Mortgage Trust New Adviser of the Year, CFML Loans Loan Administrator of the Year, Link Financial Group Best Bank BDM, NZFSG Best Specialist Lender BDM, Go Lend Best Aggregator BDM, Success and Adviser Innovator of the Year, and Newpark Home Loans Lifetime Achievement
- Company categories: Lender of the Year (Major/Non-Major Bank), Specialist Lender of the Year, Regional Brokerage of the Year, Bizcap Brokerage of the Year – Diversification, KAN Brokerage of the Year (1–5 staff), Prospa Brokerage of the Year (6+ staff), Finsure New Zealand New Brokerage of the Year, Best Customer Service of an Individual Office, and Blossum Aggregator of the Year
- National category: Liberty Adviser of the Year, drawn automatically from the individual adviser category winners and not open for separate nomination
Free to enter, with no limit on categories
There is no cost to enter. Individuals and companies can nominate themselves or their peers, and there's no cap on the number of categories. You can enter every category where you or your team has a strong story to tell. Nominations are made through an online portal and should focus on achievements from the past 12 months.
How the winners are chosen
Every nomination goes through a rigorous five-stage process:
- Nominations. Entries are submitted online.
- Research. The awards team carries out due diligence, using research and editorial insight to verify each submission.
- Excellence Awardees confirmed. The top nominees in each category are notified by email and announced on the NZ Adviser website on 7 December.
- Judging. An independent panel of mortgage and finance leaders from around New Zealand, appointed by NZ Adviser, scores each Excellence Awardee's submission confidentially and impartially.
- Winners announced. The Excellence Awardee with the highest overall score in each category takes the title. Winners are revealed on the night and online through NZ Adviser.
Why put your name forward?
Recognition at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards brings real benefits. Excellence Awardees and winners are celebrated across NZ Adviser's online channels and events, which gives them industry-wide exposure. It also lets them stand out from competitors in a crowded market. An award is a chance to thank the team and partners behind your success, lift morale, and share the pride with your peers. And the night itself brings together the industry's top professionals, making it one of the year's best opportunities to network, swap insights and build connections.
Sponsors are already backing this year's search for standout talent. "Advisers are at the heart of the NZ mortgage industry," said Aaron Skilton, chief executive officer of Liberty NZ, sponsor of the National Adviser of the Year award. As Jenny Campbell, Finsure NZ country manager and sponsor of New Brokerage of the Year, put it: "There is no doubt that the future is in good hands."
Don't miss the deadline
Whether it's yourself, your team, or a peer whose work deserves the spotlight, now is the time to put their name forward. Head to the nomination page to view the full categories and criteria and get your entry in.
Key dates
- Nominations close: Friday 16 October 2026, 11:59pm
- Excellence Awardees announced: 7 December 2026
- Gala dinner and winners announced: Thursday 11 March 2027, Cordis Auckland (black tie)
