Equal pay champion Kristine Bartlett named 2018 New Zealander of the Year

Thursday, 22 February 2018

After years of struggle, Lower Hutt aged care worker, Kristine Bartlett in 2017 reflected on the landmark decision by Government to give pay equity to about 55,000 of her low paid, mainly female colleagues.

Uncompromising, unassuming and life-changing - however you choose to describe Kristine Bartlett and her achievements, make sure to add New Zealander of the Year to that list.

Five years, three court cases, two appeals and one landmark pay settlement later, the rest home carer of 24 years received the award from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday night.

It is a prestigious and national nod to the Lower Hutt resident's significant contribution, which saw 55,000 low-paid, mainly female, care and support workers earn a pay rise.

Kristine Bartlett's fight to see aged care workers win an equal pay court case, which will have major national implications for female-dominated professions, is now New Zealander of the year.

She also received the Kiwibank kaitaka huaki cloak, Pouhine, from 2014 New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O'Sullivan on behalf of last year's winner, Taika Waititi.

**READ MORE:

Kirstine Barlett, centre, celebrate the historic $2 billion Government package announced in April to address the pay inequity in the aged care sector.

* Kristine Bartlett: 'This is going to be the biggest pay rise we'll ever get

* Historic pay increase for workers

Described as the godfather of New Zealand's restorative justice movement, Kim Workman is Senior New Zealander of the Year.

* Kristine Bartlett, equal pay campaigner

* Charity Hospital only South Island finalist for NZer of the Year awards

Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust, led by Dr Phil Bagshaw, left, won the Community of the Year award.

* Dalton, campaigners, scientists, fashion designer on NZer of Year shortlist**

The 2018 class of nominees included mental health advocate Mike King and microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles.

Team New Zealand's design team has been recognised with the Innovator of the Year award following their America's Cup victory.

Chief judge Cameron Bennett said Bartlett was a thoroughly worthy recipient of this year's supreme award.

'At enormous personal sacrifice, [she] spearheaded the equal pay movement for caregivers in the aged-care sector. In doing so she has changed the lives of thousands of New Zealand's lowest paid workers,' he said.

As He Korowai Trust chief executive, Ricky Houghton helps people find a better pathway. The Kaitaia resident was named Local Hero of the Year.

'Kristine embodies the values of fairness, decency and equity that New Zealanders have long held dear. She didn't seek out admiration or special recognition for what she helped achieve. She saw a need and had the courage of conviction to take action.'

Despite her insistence that it was not her, rather the E Tū union, which strived for change, Bartlett now joins a distinguished list of Kiwis who have won the award, including Dame Anne Salmond (2013) and Sir Richard Taylor (2012).

Fellow Lower Hutt resident Kim Workman was also recognised as the Senior New Zealander of the Year.

Workman's appointment as Prison Fellowship New Zealand national director in 2000 saw him establish the first faith-based prison unit in the Commonwealth, providing a mentoring programme for released prisoners.

He was also the principal provider of in-prison restorative justice services.

Described as a social justice advocate and godfather of the restorative justice movement in this country, he joined the Salvation Army and launched the Rethinking Crime and Punishment strategy.

He also established Justspeak, a non-partisan network of young people seeking change in New Zealand's criminal justice system.

Aucklander David Cameron was named Young New Zealander of the Year. The founder and CEO of LearnCoach helps teenagers with free and low-cost education programmes.

Innovator of the Year was Emirates Team New Zealand's design team for their revolutionary 'cyclors' that helped the Kiwis win the America's Cup in Bermuda without out-spending the bigger teams.

Canterbury Charitable Hospital Trust took out the Community of the Year award for their ongoing volunteer work helping people with physical and mental conditions get medical treatment. Established in Christchurch in 2007 and led by Dr Philip Bagshaw, it relies on donations, grants and the generosity of the wider community to help Cantabrians in need.

Local Hero of the Year was Kaitaia resident Ricky Houghton, who has led He Korowai Trust since its inception in the early 2000s.

Focusing on ensuring people are freed from adversity and given a pathway to a better future, he has saved more than 550 homes from mortgagee sales in the Far North, keeping 6400 vulnerable Kiwis housed.