There are a number of attributes which make a great New Zealander, including - in no particular order - sporting prowess, business acumen, leadership, and acts of philanthropy.
All of these things have been considered ahead of tonight’s inaugural New Zealander of the Year awards.
There are three finalists for the main event.
You may have heard of Valerie Villi and Stephen Tindal, but most people have probably not heard of Ray Avery.
Mr Avery is developing a Styrofoam incubator for babies in the developing world.
“This is the first incubator that sterilises the air continuous within it, so the baby is actually kept in a much safer environment,” he says.
Mr Avery has been busy inventing for 18 years through his aid organisation, aiming to fix the big health issues in the third world.
An early breakthrough was the intraocular lens for people with cataracts. By 2010, 30 million people who couldn’t see before, will be able to.
Mr Avery spent his childhood in English orphanages and foster homes, falling in love with science in his teens – and the third world in his late 30s.
From developing to testing, the work is relentless, but Mr Avery is determined to solve as many health care issues as he can.