Awards season is in full swing with the shortlists released for Kiwibank New Zealander of the year awards.

Former All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, victim's right advocate Louise Nicholas and artist Dick Frizzell have all been shortlisted for the top award, along with lawyer Mai Chen and academic Dr Ranginui Walker.

Chief judge Cameron Bennett says the candidates have shown courage, determination, tenacity and sheer grit, and says the candidates define what it is to be a New Zealander and achieve extraordinary things in a uniquely New Zealand way.

The finalists have also been announced for the University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year, Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year, Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year, Sanitarium New Zealand Innovator of the Year and Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year.

The father and son behind a new development in X-ray technology are familiar names back in the running for another award - this time for Sanitarium Innovator of the Year.

It's further recognition for Phil and Anthony Butler from Christchurch's MARS bio-imaging team, who won a Deloitte Fast 50 Rising Star award two years ago.

Other finalists include developers of technology for real-time aircraft tracking, gas detection, e-readers and anaesthetics.

Meanwhile, champion golfer Lydia Ko is one of ten people shortlisted for the University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year.

She's one of five finalists from Auckland, with three Wellington finalists, one Taranaki finalist and one Christchurch finalist also in the running.

Finalists for Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year have also been announced, all coming from the North Island.

The provinces are better represented in the shortlist for Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year, which includes candidates from Whangarei to Mosgiel.

Auckland youth organisation Zeal is one of ten organisations shortlisted for Mitre 10 Community of the Year.

In January, the judging panel – comprising representatives of all the awards patrons, presenters, sponsors, community leaders and independent experts – will announce the final shortlist of the three Kiwis being considered for the 2016 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year title

The winner will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards evening in Auckland in February.

A full list of semifinalists for all awards is below.

2016 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year award 

• Dame Margaret Bazley: Public policy and administration (Christchurch)
• Professor Michael Berridge: Cellular biology and cancer researcher (Wellington)
• Mai Chen: Lawyer (Auckland)
• Rob Fenwick: Environmentalist and business leader (Waiheke Island)
• Dick Frizzell: Artist, art historian and social commentator (Hawke’s Bay)
• Richie McCaw: Former All Blacks rugby captain (Christchurch)
• Dame Suzie Moncrieff: Artist and business leader (Golden Bay)
• Louise Nicholas: Victims’ rights advocate (Rotorua)
• Dr Jim Salinger: Climate scientist (Auckland)
• Dr Ranginui Walker: Academic, writer, educator and cultural commentator (Auckland)

University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year

• Scott Barrington (Christchurch)
• Kendall Flutey (Wellington)
• Sean Kelly (Taranaki)
• Lydia Ko (Auckland)
• Jade Leung (Auckland)
• Mataoria Lyndon (Auckland)
• Sarah McLean (Auckland)
• Scottie Reeve (Wellington)
• Malvindar Singh-Bains (Auckland)
• Lional Taito-Matamua (Lower Hutt)

Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year

• Kristine Bartlett (Lower Hutt)
• Geoff Whitcher (Auckland)
• Iris Cheng (Auckland)
• Chris Dessa (Auckland)
• Pratima Devi Nand (Auckland)
• Gavin Faull (Taranaki)
• Avis Leeson (Hamilton)
• Joan-Mary Loncroft (Auckland)
• Robert McGowan (Tauranga)
• John Russell (Lower Hutt)

Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year

• Bellyful (Pukekohe)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters NZ (Wellington)
• Community Fruit Harvest (Auckland)
• Greening the Rubble (Christchurch)
• Just Zilch (Palmerston North)
• Project Butterfly (Nelson)
• South Alive (Invercargill)
• Supergrans (national)
• Te Whangai Trust (Pokeno)
• ZEAL (Auckland)

Sanitarium New Zealand Innovator of the Year

• Paul Cameron, Booktrack (Auckland)
• Lillian Grace, Figure NZ (Auckland)
• KIWA Digital (Wellington)
• John Hyndman and Ivan Batistich, HYVAN Anaesthesia (Kaiapoi)
• Spidertracks (Auckland)
• Scott Bradley, VMOB (Auckland)
• Photonic Innovations (Dunedin)
• Phil Butler and Anthony Butler, MARS bio-imaging team (Christchurch)
• Peter Johnson, Water Outlook Ltd (Auckland)
• Mark Finch and Thor Besier, I Measure U (Auckland)

Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year

• Peter Coates (Whangarei)
• Selwyn Cook (Hamilton)
• Rebecca Culver (Palmerston North)
• Lew Findlay (Palmerston North)
• Graeme Gale (Mosgiel)
• Robin Hape (Hawke’s Bay)
• Timothy Marshall (Gisborne)
• Shirley Sparks (Bay of Plenty)
• Derek Tuck (Palmerston North)
• Karen Watson (Christchurch)