Herald readers have only a short time left to nominate their candidate for the Herald's Man and Woman of the Year for 2000.
More than 2100 people have faxed, e-mailed or written to the Herald with their nominations for the man and woman who they think have made a big difference over the past 12 months.
Supporters of Emily Drumm, captain of the victorious women's cricket team, have been busy in the past week firing off nominations, suggesting she take the honour.
Their dedication has seen the number of nominations for Drumm jump from one to 65.
But it will take more than her impressive cricketing skills to outstrip the two top women in the race, Women's Refuge head Merepeka Raukawa-Tait and Xena star Lucy Lawless.
These two have been vying for the most support since nominations were first called for a month ago.
Among the politicians, Act MP Muriel Newman, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Green MPs Jeanette Fitzsimons and Nandor Tanczos have been the favourites.
The support for Muriel Newman has been boosted by an e-mail campaign by members of a "Father Friendly Database," who were urged to vote for the list MP after being told that nominations for Ms Raukawa-Tait were part of a ploy by the Women's Refuge organisation.
National Party leader Jenny Shipley is likely to avoid using the nomination table as a way of rallying party support behind her leadership, after garnering only five expressions of support.
This compares with 134 for the Prime Minister.
Labour MP Tariana Turia also has five nominations.
Voting closes at noon tomorrow, so any e-mails, letters or faxes received after that time will not be included.
The Herald Man and Woman of the Year for 2000 will be announced in Monday's newspaper.
The voting
WOMEN
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait 506
Actor Lucy Lawless 467
Act MP Muriel Newman 182
Prime Minister Helen Clark 134
Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons 74
Cricket captain Emily Drumm 67
Winz boss Christine Rankin 58
Green MP Sue Bradford 12
Hockey player Mandy Smith 11
Broadcaster Kim Hill 9
Cyclist Sarah Ulmer 8
Cancer patient Colleen Poutsma 8
Labour MP Tariana Turia 5
Opposition leader Jenny Shipley 5
Squash champion Leilani Joyce 5
Actor and producer Anna Wilding 3
Boardsailer Barbara Kendall 3
Alliance MP Laila Harre 3
Broadcaster Maggie Barry 2
Squash champion Susan Devoy 2
MEN
Olympic rower Rob Waddell 211
Film-maker Peter Jackson 58
Health chief David Clarke 50
Green MP Nandor Tanczos 47
Boxer David Tua 30
Chemist Alan MacDiarmid 23
Men's Rights' Bruce Cheriton 22
Mad Butcher Peter Leitch 19
Yachtsman Russell Coutts 17
Businessman Stephen Tindall 13
Commissioner Roger McClay 12
All Black coach Wayne Smith 12
Broadcaster John Campbell 10
Yachtsman Peter Blake 9
Actor Russell Crowe 8
Christian leader Graham Capill 8
Jockey Michael Walker 7
Alliance MP Grant Gillon 7
Yachtsman Dean Barker 6
Cereal-maker Dick Hubbard 5
Deputy PM Jim Anderton 4
Writer Joe Bennett 4
Race conciliator Rajen Prasad 3
Minister Michael Cullen 2
Weatherman Augie Auer 2
Broadcaster Lindsay Perigo 2
Horseman Mark Todd 2
Act MP Rodney Hide 2
Labour MP John Tamihere 2
Speaker Jonathan Hunt 2
All Black Doug Howlett 2
Send your nominations to:
Your Vote
NZ Herald Editorial
PO Box 3290, Auckland
Fax: 373-6421
E-mail: yourvote@nzherald.co.nz
<i>New Zealander of the year:</i> Cricket captain gathering pace
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