Equal pay champion Kristine Bartlett has been named the Kiwibank 2018 New Zealander of the Year.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented the award to the rest home carer who campaigned for pay equity on behalf of 55,000 low-paid, mainly female care and support workers.
Her hard work saw her pay, which was just over the minimum wage, $15.75, jump to $23.50, with further pay rises over five years to $27 an hour.
The settlement equated to $2b over five years.
The award was given at a cermony on Thursday night at the The Cordis Auckland hotel.