Photo: Supplied/ Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Activist Shaneel Lal has become the first transgender person to win a New Zealander of the Year award.
The 22-year-old has been named Young New Zealander of the Year for their work in the rainbow community.
They were instrumental in the fight to ban conversion therapy and in the recent protest against anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker.
Shaneel Lal said their award sent a message to people like Posie Parker that their transphobia was not welcome in New Zealand.
They said they had no idea about the award and almost did not show up to accept it, but they were glad they did.