Smith's electric form for the Highlanders sees the energetic halfback also earn a nod for Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year. He's vying for that award with team mate and first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga whose excellent season saw him earn an All Blacks cap, and bustling Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst who also made his All Blacks debut this year.
It has been a standout year for three of New Zealand's top coaches who are nominated for Coach of the Year. Under Steve Hansen's watch the All Blacks made history with back-to-back World Cup triumphs, retained their number one world ranking for the sixth straight year and lost just one match.
Two former All Blacks make up the other two nominations - Highlanders Head Coach Jamie Joseph is nominated after taking the team to their first ever Investec Super Rugby title. Scott Robertson is recognised for steering Canterbury to their seventh ITM Cup win and helping to mastermind New Zealand's victory at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy.
Women's rugby also enjoyed a stellar year. The Black Ferns dominated the Super Series in Canada, sweeping aside the hosts, World Champions England and the USA. The New Zealand Women's Sevens team qualified for Rio 2016 and secured their third successive Women's Series title.
Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge, who was named World Rugby's Women's Player of the Year last month, earns a nomination alongside long serving captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili and team-mate Linda Itunu.
In the Women's Sevens category, World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Portia Woodman is up against captain and 2014 award winner Sarah Goss and Tyla Nathan-Wong.
The All Blacks Sevens also qualified for Rio after finishing a close third to World Series winners Fiji and runners up South Africa. New captain Scott Curry is nominated for the Richard Crawshaw Sevens Player of the Year Award alongside speedster Rieko Ioane who embraced sevens with style in his debut year. Playmaker Joe Webber also excelled this season and earns his first nomination.
2015 Steinlager Rugby Awards nominations
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Alex Fidow (Wellington)
Charlie Gamble (Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Tania Karaitiana and Vio Ugone (Stokes Valley RFC - Wellington)
Robert Neil (Pakuranga RFC - Auckland)
Andrew Reilly (Feilding Junior Rugby Committee - Manawatu)
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Jessica Beard (Counties Manukau)
Glen Jackson (Bay of Plenty)
Richard Kelly (Taranaki Rugby)
Pink Batts Heartland Championship Player of the Year
Eric Duff (Mid Canterbury)
Lindsay Horrocks (Wanganui)
Stephen Perofeta (Wanganui)
New Zealand Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year
Sarah Goss (Manawatu)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)
Portia Woodman (Auckland)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial Sevens Player of the Year
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Joe Webber (Waikato)
ITM Cup Player of the Year
George Moala (Auckland)
Ardie Savea (Wellington)
Dominic Bird (Canterbury)
Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year
James Broadhurst (Hurricanes)
Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)
Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year
Charlie Ngatai (Ngāti Porou/Te Whanau-ā-Apanui) (Taranaki)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Ngāti Porou) (Manawatu)
Aaron Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu) (Manawatu)
New Zealand Rugby Women's Player of the Year
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland)
Linda Itunu (Auckland)
New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year
Steve Hansen (All Blacks)
Jamie Joseph (Highlanders)
Scott Robertson (Canterbury, New Zealand Under 20)
adidas Team of the Year
All Blacks
Highlanders
New Zealand Under 20
Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year
Dan Carter (Canterbury)
Dane Coles (Wellington)
Ma'a Nonu (Wellington)
Ben Smith (Otago)
