Editoral: People's Choice - a new way for honouring our New Zealander of the Year

The choice is in your hands.

As the end of the year draws closer, we start to recall those who made a difference to New Zealand in 2016.

For a quarter of a century this newspaper has recognised the people - in many instances ordinary Kiwis from all walks of life - who have made the country a better place, those who have put the interests of others before themselves or whose remarkable accomplishments have thrilled the nation.

We are a small country and yet there never seems to be a shortage of high-achievers who have made New Zealand's collective heart pound with exhilaration.

There are too many to honour all at once and any list involves subjective judgments. Our selections have not necessarily coincided with the choices others make but the qualities we recognise are consistent.

We look for New Zealanders who define some of our best characteristics. The men and women who shine in our preferences reveal talent, determination, fearlessness, leadership and spirit.

Last year we honoured the Wellington lawyer Lecretia Seales, who bravely spent her final months fighting for the right to choose how she died. Her battle remains unfinished but is still being waged.

MPs on Parliament's health select committee are hearing hundreds of submissions on a petition seeking legislation allowing medically-assisted dying where there is terminal illness and unbearable suffering.

The petition has been called 'Lecretia's choice' and while it has led to profound philosophical divisions, it has permitted considered debate on an issue which seldom has had such serious attention.

Lecretia Seales left a great legacy and was clearly a deserving choice as a courageous and inspiring Herald New Zealander of the Year.

The year before we opted for joint winners - Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and Mary Quin, who helped convict the terrorist who masterminded her kidnapping.

McCullum was our pick not just for his smashing work at the wicket - he spoke to the values of sport when he testified to International Cricket Council anti-corruption investigators in the case against former friend and teammate Chris Cairns.

In 2013, the award went to the young singer Lorde, teenage golfer Lydia Ko and Man Booker winner Eleanor Catton. Past winners have included Sir Peter Blake, Sir Peter Jackson and slain Good Samaritan Austin Hemmings.

Until this year the process has involved a panel of our senior journalists assessing all the nominations and reaching collective decisions. We are undertaking that task again - and for the first time we are extending the exercise to embrace our readers across all our platforms - in print and in our digital offerings.

Together with our radio partner The Hits, we are introducing a People's Choice Award to allow our readers to acknowledge the truly inspiring stories in our communities.

We have whittled down our selections to twelve individuals. In two cases, two people comprise the entry, which is appropriate given that a lot of the good stories these individuals represent spring from collective efforts.

Their stories, along with voting details, can be found on A20 today. Voting closes at midnight next Saturday, December 10. The winner will be announced together with our New Zealander of the Year on December 31. The choice is in your hands.