NZMA Awards
NZMA Athlete of the Year Awards
The AotY Awards cover a calendar year, and are presented at the following year’s National T&F Champs. The guidelines listed below endeavour to strike a balance between the workload required of the organisers and providing a fair system for athletes. They aim to blend objectivity with a degree of judgement. Following each year’s presentations, the Board reviews the process and makes any amendments considered beneficial.
1. Competition results that will be recorded by the AotY organisers
- NZMA Champs – National and Island T&F Champs organised by NZMA
- NZMA Champs – Decathlon, track Mile, 10,000m, and non-stadia Champs organised by ANZ
- WMA Champs, and Regional (Oceania T&F and Australian T&F) Champs
2. Other results
Athletes or Centres may submit any qualifying performances that are achieved at competitions not included in the list above, or in open or senior grades. However, to be eligible for inclusion, the athlete must have competed in at least one competition on the list.
3. Requirements to be long-listed, at least one of the following three
- Minimum age-graded percentage (AG%)
The AG% calculator can be found at: mastersrankings.com/new-age-grades/
| Sprints (up to 400m) | min 85% / 80% for podium flat min 70% / 65% for podium hurdles |
| Middle (800-3000m) | min 85% / 80% for podium flat min 70% / 65% for podium steeplechase |
| Distance (up to 10,000m) | min 80% / 75% for podium Road 10000m grading; XC placings |
| Extra Distance (over 10km) | min 75% / 70% for podium or placings |
| Walks | min 70% / 65% for podium |
| Jumps | min 70% / 65% for podium |
| Throws | min 60% / 55% for podium |
| Combined | Pentathlon: min 2750 / 2500 for podium Heptathlon: min 3850 / 3500 for podium Decathlon: min 5500 / 5000 for podium |
- Podium position
If an AG% is unavailable (eg, cross-country, wind-assisted sprint) and the performance is of a reasonable standard
- Record-breaking performance
World, Regional and NZMA/ANZ
4. Judging guidelines, in priority order
- AG% (if available);
- podium position, taking into account the status and depth of the competition;
- records;
- number and consistency of results.
5. The Judges have the discretion to make any adjustments during the final judging, such as combining or sub-dividing categories, if they feel that doing so would deliver more equitable outcomes.
Ian Carter & Dale McMillan
Awards Convenors
May 2025
NZMA Athlete of the Year Awards 2025
NOMINATION FORM – 2025 Calendar Year
To assist us with your nomination, please use the AGE GRADE CALCULATOR link below to work out the performance percentage using the World Masters Rankings age factors.
World Masters Rankings Age Percentage Calculator
Please download the form and e-mail your nominations for the 2025 calendar year ASAP to Dale McMillan or Ian Carter by January 11th 2026.
NZMA Colours Awards
NZMA Colours awards are awarded to athletes who:
# Set a world masters record
# Win a world masters title
# Achieve a performance of 95% or better on the WMA percentage tables. This may be revisited as the 2023 age factors generate a lower percentage.
The colours award comprises a NZMA gold brooch with red and black background with the word Colours and the year of the achievement.
NZMA Service and Merit Awards
NZMA Service and Merit awards are available to members who have given service to the association.
All members are eligible and this includes officials or others who have given the service to the association.
Service Award – 10 years of service to NZMA
Merit Award – 20 years of service to NZMA.
Nominations are called for with the notice of the NZMA Annual General meeting and must be submitted through the nominees NZMA centre.
The awards are presented at the NZMA Annual General Meeting or Awards Dinner.
Nominations are the responsibility of each Centre.
Non NZMA members are eligible for Service Awards only.
Nominations for the above awards are required to be submitted by 15 January in the following year.