Westpac Emerging Talent Award Criteria Eligibility and Voting

Westpac Emerging Talent Award

The Westpac Emerging Talent Award is designed to identify and reward potential Olympic and World Champions. The winner receives a $15,000 Westpac scholarship.

a. Eligibility
• Must be a New Zealand Citizen, or hold a Resident or Permanent Resident Visa.
• Must be an individual athlete or athlete in a team.
• Must be under 21 years of age at the time of their nominated achievement.
• Must have represented New Zealand.
• Must not have achieved success at elite international level. Success at an elite international level is defined as having attended an Olympic Games or medalled at Senior World Championships.

b. Criteria
The criteria for the Westpac Emerging Talent Award is:

The Westpac Emerging Talent Award will be awarded to the individual athlete or athlete in a team, under the age of 21, who has the greatest potential to be an Olympic or World champion.

Regarding the criteria, the Voting Academy consider:
1. Past performance and achievement, including: 

a. Significance of the performance/achievement internationally
b. Significance of the event and placing in the event
c. Global nature of the sport
d. Other performances/achievements of significance

2. Future potential, including

a. Potential to achieve at the highest (elite) level.
b. Qualities of the athlete as a person, including:

i. The clarity of their dream/goal
ii. Their strength of purpose
iii. What they are prepared to give up in pursuit of their dream
iv. How they have responded to adversity
v. How they have performed under pressure.
 

c. Nominations

Nominations:
• Must be made by National Sports Organisations or Voting Academy members.

• Are limited to one per sport.

• Must be on an official Emerging Talent Nomination Form and be submitted with a one page personal statement from the athlete illustrating how they have demonstrated:

i. The clarity of their dream / goal
ii. Their strength of purpose
iii. What they are prepared to give up in pursuit of their dream
iv. How they have responded to adversity
v. How they have performed under pressure in their career to date.

• Must be completed with as much information as possible relative to the past performance of the athlete and their potential to be an Olympic or World Champion.

• Must be received by Halberg Trust by 30 November - except for achievements which occur in December. NB Nominators are required to notify Halberg Trust of any potential December achievements by 30 November.

d. Voting
Nominations are considered and voted on by the Emerging Talent Voting Academy.
NB the Emerging Talent Voting Academy comprises eight members, who have considerable high performance sport experience. The Academy votes in two phases: the first to select the finalists, and the second to select the winner.

d. Emerging Talent Voting Academy

The Emerging Talent Voting Academy comprises:

• Chris Bullen
• John Reid
• Martin Toomey
• Tony Philip
• Mike Stanley
• Nigel Avery
• Ron Cheatley
• Vanessa Paun