Every year LIANZA recognises professional excellence and honours the contributions made by its members to the library and information profession in New Zealand.
The LIANZA Professional Awards were established in 1955 and recognise people who have contributed to a significant level to the work of the association and the library and information sector.
LIANZA Professional Recognition Awards include:
Fellowships
Associateships
Professional Excellence
Letter of Recognition
Joint Letter of Recognition for Bicultural Development
Honorary Life Membership
The LIANZA Professional Recognition Awards are managed by the LIANZA Credentials Committee.
“Personally, it means a lot to be recognised by fellow colleagues. I am, in general, quite whakamā (shy) about putting myself forward to be recognised for the mahi I have done. But I realised this was an opportunity to showcase to other Pacific Islanders that this career can speak to the many values we hold: Fa’aaloalo (respect), Tautua (service) to name a couple."
"All my mahi has been collaborative, so this is also a way of acknowledging everyone who has helped and supported me over the past 30 years. And for my mahi – it’s given me the confidence to continue pushing in the places I need to push. It’s given me the impetus to keep moving forward with mahi that’s not easy, but well worth the effort.”
Trina Schuster, LIANZA Associate
LIANZA offers a variety of grants and awards to support projects, research and professional development within the library and information sector.
There are national grants and awards available annually, with some only offered biennially.
LIANZA National Grants include:
Rua Mano Grant - annual
Edith Jessie Carnell Grant - biennial, next offered in 2026
Ada Fache Grant - annual
John Harris Award - annual
All LIANZA National Grants and Awards are now judged by one panel of up to seven members made up from LIANZA Council, LIANZA Communities and Te Rōpū Whakahau, unless a bequest deed specifies differently. The panel may co-op relevant expertise if necessary.
In 2019 the Scholarships Working Group made recommendations about the existing scholarships offered by LIANZA.
The following terms were clarified and names of some existing scholarships were updated:
an award recognises an achievement that has already been completed
LIANZA offers annual awards to tertiary students at the Victoria University of Wellington and Open Polytechnic who are studying towards a library and information qualification and have been selected for the award by their tertiary institution.
"Receiving a LIANZA Associateship last year motivated me to reconsider how I could give back to the profession in a meaningful way. Subsequently, I have joined a number of national advisory groups and would be open to contributing in any other way that might be of value.
A strong and centred sense of self can provide the focus needed to keep moving forward professionally. The pathway that led to my Associateship was built on that premise, and I hope that in accepting it, others will see a way forward for themselves.”
