Ako Aotearoa would like to thank everyone who was able to join us for the announcement of the 2025 Aotearoa Literacy and Numeracy Educator Awards, with a special thank you to those who took the time to make a nomination and the outstanding educators who were shortlisted for each award.

We would like to congratulate the 2025 recipients of the New Zealand Literacy and Numeracy Educator Awards.

The New Zealand Literacy Educator Award | Te Tohu Kaiako Reo Matatini o Aotearoa

• Shari Young – Programme Lead for the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment at Ara Institute of Canterbury

Also shortlisted for the award: Rachel Owens, Helen Thorn, Vicki Fox and Vijay Pillay.

The New Zealand Numeracy Educator Award | Te Tohu Kaiako Pāngarau o Aotearoa

• Gary Sharpe – ‘retired’ Learning Skills Tutor and DysCalculator developer

Also shortlisted for the award: Lillian Emery, Deborah Neilson and Vijay Pillay.

Champions of Literacy and Numeracy Education in Aotearoa

These two awards celebrate the success of outstanding educators in tertiary education and honour the legacy of two people who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of literacy and numeracy education in Aotearoa New Zealand:

The New Zealand Numeracy Educator Award | Dedicated to New Zealand educator Dr Judy Paterson.

The New Zealand Literacy Educator Award | Dedicated to New Zealand educator Dr Sue Dymock.