The hunt for the Herald's New Zealand Man and Woman of the Year is hotting up with two women anti-violence campaigners blitzing the field.
A flood of voting over the past week has resulted in just 20 votes separating Women's Refuge head Merepeka Raukawa-Tait and Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless, who has recently used her profile to promote an anti-child abuse campaign. The pair have attracted 350 votes between them.
Voters say Lawless has helped to put New Zealand on the map, and have commended her for her work with the Starship Foundation's Safe and Sound Appeal.
Voters have shown so far that women's endeavours, whether they be social, political or sporting, have captured the public's attentions this year.
The highest-polling man, Olympic rowing gold medallist Rob Waddell, has 85 votes.
Lord of the Rings film director Peter Jackson and David Clarke, chief executive of South Auckland Health, are Waddell's closest contenders with 31 votes each.
And while David Tua may have failed to take the world heavyweight title, his courage and likeable personality have netted him fourth place in the men's race with 23 votes.
A mediocre season for the All Blacks, once our highest-profile sportsmen, means that none of the players has received more than one vote.
However, coach Wayne Smith is managing fifth place in the men's category with 11 votes.
As for politicians, Helen Clark has proved our most popular with 56 votes while rival Jenny Shipley has managed just one.
Of the political parties, Green MPs have the best showing so far with Nandor Tanczos, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Sue Bradford all attracting voters' attentions.
Among the New Zealanders who have received one vote are champion horseman Mark Todd, broadcaster and recording artist Paul Holmes, golfer Michael Campbell and television presenter Mikey Havoc. Olympic rower Sonia Waddell, newsreader Hillary Barry and Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer have also rated one mention each.
Send your nominations to:
Your Vote
NZ Herald Editorial
PO Box 3290, Auckland
Fax: 373-6421
E-mail: yourvote@nzherald.co.nz
We will update the nominations and voting over the next month.
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