The Inspirational Women Awards are a non-profit awards and gala celebrating New Zealand's female leaders and change-makers while raising awareness of domestic violence.

Founded in Queenstown in 2022, the Inspirational Women Awards have grown into New Zealand’s largest national women’s awards program open to wāhine from all industries and walks of life.

All funds raised through this event go to the family violence charities of New Zealand.

The Inspirational Women Awards is open to all New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who identify as female for entry. The 2026 Inspirational Women Awards will be held on November 21st at QT Queenstown; nominations are now closed.

Nominations for the 2028 Inspirational Women Awards will open in March 2028.

The Inspirational Women Awards New Zealand initiative was created to celebrate and elevate women whilst raising awareness around domestic violence.

The Inspirational Women Awards has been created in partnership with the family violence charities of New Zealand.

These are: The Women’s Refuge, The Women's Refuge Central Lakes/Otago/Southland, & Central Lakes Family Services.

All of the proceeds will be going to the Women’s Refuge national and the Women's Refuge Lower-South, specifically the branches Gore & Clutha Women's Refuge Te Whare Piringa O Marua Wai (Affiliated), Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge (Affiliated), and Central-Lakes Family Services.

All of the proceeds from this event go to: Women’s Refuge National, Women's Refuge Lower-South, specifically the branches Gore & Clutha Women's Refuge Te Whare Piringa O Marua Wai (Affiliated) and Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge (Affiliated), and Central-Lakes Family Services.

TERMS & CONDITIONS 2026

You acknowledge and agree that these terms and conditions apply by purchasing tickets to attend this event.

Unless COVID-19-related circumstances are detailed in point. Three occur, no refund or exchange on tickets will be given unless refunded 30 days before the event or unless required by law or at the discretion of the event managers. Humanitix fees are nonrefundable.

Should the Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services be cancelled due to government-enforced restrictions due to COVID-19, we will attempt to move the event in the first instance. Still, we will refund participants in full on request, excluding Humanitix fees. Should the event be cancelled entirely due to COVID-19, we will fully refund participants on request, excluding Humanitix fees.

When you are at the event venue, The Rydges Lakeland Resort, you must adhere to all instructions from The Rydges staff.

By attending, you consent to Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services carrying out filming, sound recording, and/or photography at the event, and you consent to the use by Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services of any such recording or photography for promotional, marketing, and other purposes.

The Rydges Lakeland Resort Staff reserve the right to remove guests who do not follow their instructions or behave disorderly.

Entry may be refused if tickets are damaged or defaced in any way or are not purchased from the official Humanitix page.

NOMINATION TERMS & CONDITIONS

Submission of a nomination or consent to be nominated constitutes acceptance of the following terms and conditions.

Candidates must be female or identify as female.

Candidates must be living in New Zealand, and either New Zealand citizens or permanent New Zealand residents.

Candidates must not be judges of the awards

Candidates must be aged 18 years or over

​A candidate may nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party.

If nominated by a third party, the nomination must obtain the consent of the person they are nominating before submitting the entry form.

Employees of category sponsors may only enter the category in which their employer is not the sponsor.

Nominations open on 8th March 2026 (International Women's Day), and close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, 8th June 2026.

The judging panel and the event staff reserve the right to verify nominations in each category, for example, by requesting further information or contacting referees.

Finalists for each category will be announced on July 8th, 2026.

The winners of each category will be announced at the awards.

The judging panel reserves the right to make a new award outside the original categories where they see necessary.

The judging panel reserves the right not to select an award winner in a category.

The judging panel's decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

The event organisers accept no responsibility for late or incomplete entries.

The entry, judging, and award process are managed by the organisers of the Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services.

For enquiries about eligibility or other questions relating to the awards, please contact hello@galaforwomensrefugequeenstown.co.nz.

The Queenstown Women’s Refuge Gala and the Inspirational Women Awards are the same event, we changed the name to Inspirational Women Awards & Gala for Women’s Refuge Services so as the encompass all the family violence charities supporting our country.

Nominations have now closed for the Woman of the Year Award, New Zealand. The category winner will be announced at the 2026 Gala event.

Nominations for the 2028 Inspirational Women Awards and the Woman of the Year New Zealand category open on March 8th, 2028.