Renowned Auckland academic and environmentalist Dame Anne Salmond has been named the New Zealander of the Year.
Dame Anne received the award on Thursday for her anthropological studies on cultural exchanges in New Zealand history, and building strong multicultural societies.
She has written seven award-winning books, aided the education of low-income Maori and Pacific students and worked on restoring native bush on the East Coast.
The patron of the KiwiBank-sponsored awards, former prime minister patron Jim Bolger, said she is committed to understanding New Zealand's cultural heritage and protecting the environment for future generations.
Dame Anne is Distinguished Professor of Maori Studies and Anthropology at Auckland University.