Recognising Excellence in Aged Care
The Aged Care Association (ACA) works on behalf of its members to achieve an aged care sector where providers are resourced to deliver accessible, quality care for New Zealanders who need it. Aged residential care providers deliver services to over 40,000 older New Zealanders and their families every year, and we want to make sure examples of excellence in care are recognised and celebrated. These awards recognise care facilities and individuals that are at the top of their game, making the most of opportunities, implementing innovations and improving services.
The awards are in two categories: the first highlights the great work happening in care facilities and the second acknowledges individuals who are making outstanding contributions to the people they care for and work with.
2026 Finalists
Fifteen finalists from across New Zealand have been recognised for outstanding care, leadership, innovation, design, sustainability and service to older people:
Facility Awards
Gilmours Excellence in Food Award for Care Homes and Hospitals
Keith Park Retirement Village – Auckland
St Andrews Village - Auckland
Ranfurly Residential Care - Fielding
Lifecare Property Small Operator Industry Award
The Beachfront Home and Hospital - Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa
Harbour View Rest Home - Oamaru
Hercules Health Innovative Delivery Award
Te Wiremu House Lifecare & Village – Gisborne
The CARE Village – Rotorua
Eversource Sustainability Award
Ranfurly Residential Care - Feilding
Glenbrae Resthome And Hospital - Rotorua
ACA Excellence in Design Award
Tamahere Country Club Care Centre - Hamilton
Ashbury Heights Care Centre – Whangārei
Individual Awards
Careerforce Legendary Service to the Aged Care Sector Award
Susan Watson, O'Conor Home - Westport
Sandy Turnwald - Bupa Aged Care New Zealand
Leecare Individual Award for Outstanding Solutions
Elyana Pestano Queen Rose Retirement Village – Dunedin
Navjot Kaur, Hodgson House Lifecare & Village - Tauranga
Nominations for this year's Excellence in Care Awards have now closed.
Timeline
Applications Open
22 JUNE
Applications Close
5 AUGUST
Judging Begins
6 AUGUST
Finalists are Contacted
28 AUGUST
Awards are presented at Conference 29 OCTOBER
Excellence in Care Award Categories
EBOS Healthcare Overall Award
The EBOS Healthcare Overall Excellence in Care Award is the premier award of the ACA | EBOS Excellence in Care Awards programme. It recognises the most outstanding achievement across all award categories, with all individual category winners automatically eligible for consideration. The award celebrates excellence, innovation, and exceptional contributions to the delivery of aged care in New Zealand.
Facility Awards
Gilmours Excellence in Food Service Award
This award recognises and celebrates outstanding achievement and innovation in food service in aged residential care, showcasing excellence in menu design, food safety, service delivery, resident experience, and continuous improvement. 
Lifecare Property Small Operator Award
This award recognises the outstanding work of smaller operators in the New Zealand aged residential care industry in caring for, supporting and enriching the lives of residents, their families and staff.
Hercules Health Innovative Delivery Award
This award recognises exceptional effort by organisations and care homes to enhance the excellence of the care they deliver to residents. This may be through innovation, creativity or redesign of the delivery of services in order to provide a true continuum of care options for elderly residents.
Eversource Sustainability Award
This award celebrates organisations or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional sustainability practices within their facility. The award aims to highlight those who have successfully integrated sustainable principles into their day-to-day operations by way of offering sustainable products and services.
Aged Care Association Excellence in Design Award
This award recognises exceptional design, construction or changes to a care facility to create a positive environment for residents and staff. This may include sustainable building practices or creative garden and landscape design, construction of physical care facility buildings or changes to the interior to achieve superior results for elderly residents.
Individual Awards
Careerforce Legendary Service to the Aged Care Sector Award
This award recognises the outstanding contribution of someone who has been part of the aged residential care sector for more than ten years. This person will have continuously made a difference in the lives of numerous residents and staff members.
Leecare Individual Award for Outstanding Solutions
This award recognises the stand-out problem-solver in a care facility. This individual must have been instrumental in implementing solutions to enhance the delivery of quality care.
Excellence in Care 2026 Judging Panel
EBOS Overall Award
Andrew Little, Mayor of Wellington
Lucy Millin, Aged Care Sales Manager, EBOS
Gilmours Excellence in Food Award for Care Homes and Hospitals
Rabikah Begum, Principal Workforce and Clinical Lead, Aged Care Association
Pip Duncan, Food Services Consultant, registered dietitian, and food writer
Ken O’Connell, Culinary Consultant, President of Bocuse d'Or New Zealand and co-owner and executive chef at Copia, Auckland
Lifecare Property Small Operator Industry Award
Sir Ashley Bloomfield, CEO, PHF Science and Professor at School of Population Health, The University of Auckland
Carolyn Cooper, New Zealand’s first Aged Care Commissioner and independent consultant
Margaret Milne, interRAI Development & Service Delivery Manager at Te Whatu Ora
Hercules Health Innovative Delivery Award
Eleanor Bodger, Co-founder and Director, Eldernet
Paul Goulter, CEO, NZ Nurses Organisation
Jessica Buddendijk, Independent Aged Care Adviser
Eversource Sustainability Award
Jessica Buddendijk, Independent Aged Care Adviser
James Patterson, Head of Sustainable Finance, ASB
Mark McCutheon, General Manager, Rheem New Zealand
ACA Excellence in Design
Daniel Gannon, CEO, Retirement Villages Council
Stephen Judd, Deputy Chair of Australia's Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority
Tom Webster, Architect and presenter of Grand Designs NZ
Individual Awards
Careerforce Legendary Service to the Aged Care Sector Award
Tom Symondson, CEO, Aging Australia
Dame Annette King, former Minister for Health and Labour Deputy leader
Dr Judy Blakey, Researcher and advocate for older New Zealanders
Leecare Solutions Individual Award for Outstanding Solutions
Wayne Naylor, CEO, Hospice New Zealand
Viv Allanson, CEO, Gener8Care
Julia Biggs, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Oceania Healthcare, winner of the 2025 ACA Excellence in Care Overall Award and ACA Sustainability Award