New Zealand Mortgage Awards are a reputation booster

It’s been seven months since Christchurch brokerage The Mortgage Girls dominated at the 2024 New Zealand Mortgage Awards, winning four prestigious titles, but the business is still reaping the rewards.

The Mortgage Girls won Resimac Home Loans Best Customer Service of an Individual Office and Prospa Brokerage of the Year – 6+ Staff at the 2024 NZMAs, which were held on April 11.

To top it off, Laura te Kaat (pictured above), mortgage adviser at The Mortgage Girls, was awarded Pepper Money Adviser of the Year – Residential, and the top national award – Liberty Adviser of the Year –  rounding off a night of outstanding results for the all-female brokerage.

With nominations closing for the 2025 New Zealand Mortgage Awards at 11.59pm on Friday, November 15,  NZ Adviser caught up with te Kaat to find out how winning four awards had impacted The Mortgage Girls and why other mortgage advisers, brokerages, BDMs, lenders, and aggregators should enter the 2025 awards.

Representatives from award sponsors Finsure NZ, Basecorp and Kiwi Adviser Network are also encouraging mortgage industry representatives to enter the 2025 NZMAs, which features 18 categories and will be held on April 10, 2025, at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The NZMAs are being organised by Key Media with the support of NZ Adviser. Liberty is again event partner for the awards. Other award sponsors include Avanti Finance, Bizcap, FAMNZ, First Mortgage Trust, Link Financial Group, NZFSG, Pepper Money and Prospa.

NZMAs reward for hard work

“Winning these awards was an incredibly meaningful moment for us,” said te Kaat. “It’s not just about the trophies or the titles – it’s recognition for the hard work we put in every day to help our customers achieve their financial goals and make their dreams a reality.”

Te Kaat said for The Mortgage Girls, “it reaffirmed the dedication and commitment we put into everything we do”.

“While it’s an incredible achievement, it hasn’t changed our approach. We are still focused on striving for the best outcomes for our customers, our lenders, and ourselves,” she said. “Ultimately we love what we do, helping everyday Kiwis into homes every day.”

Profile boost for winners

Te Kaat said the impact of the awards in terms of brand recognition for The Mortgage Girls had been enormous, especially in such a competitive industry.

“There are so many talented advisers out there, so being recognised in this way is truly humbling,” she said. “These awards have given us the chance to stand out and be seen in a positive light, which is especially rewarding in an environment where so many others are doing amazing work too.”

The support and congratulations had been incredibly gratifying, said te Kaat, but watching  customers become even more passionate advocates the brokerage has been more fulfilling.

“We’ve seen numerous social media recommendations, with people commenting ‘I agree, they just won an award for their customer service, highly recommend.’ It’s been amazing to see how these accolades have deepened our relationship with clients and enhanced their trust in us.”

Why people should nominate for the NZMAs

Te Kaat said the NZMAs played a crucial role in the industry by celebrating success and recognising the hard work behind the scenes.

“In a competitive market, acknowledging excellence is vital for keeping the industry engaged and motivated,” she said. “It sets a benchmark for others to strive for and builds credibility.”

Te Kaat said when advisers were recognised for excellence, it boosted consumer trust, making it more likely that they would seek the guidance of a professional when making important financial decisions.

“So why not put your name forward and recognise the people who inspire you? It’s an opportunity to celebrate excellence, build connections, and raise the profile of our profession as a whole,” she said.

Te Kaat said the NZMAs provided a fun night out and an opportunity to reconnect with people from all areas of the industry.

Sponsors encourage NZMAs entries

Kiwi Adviser Network general manager Sarah Johnston (pictured below) said the New Zealand Mortgage Awards gave all mortgage advisers and the wider mortgage community an opportunity to be recognised for the work and dedication they show every day in supporting Kiwis to gain financial advice.

“For this reason the Kiwi Adviser Network is proud to be a sponsor,” said Johnston.

John Moody (pictured below), chief financial officer at Basecorp Finance, said Basecorp was proud and excited to be involved in the NZMAs for a second year running.

“We are a passionate advocate for the advice industry and the NZMAs is a fantastic event to both bring our industry together and celebrate the success of adviser businesses,” Moody said.

“The 2024 edition had a number of exceptional nominees and finalists, and we encourage advisers to nominate themselves and others once again to ensure the event is better still in 2025.”

Finsure New Zealand country manager Jenny Campbell (pictured below) said one of her  favourite things about the mortgage and finance industry was the customer-first attitude.

“Despite helping Kiwis achieve their own dreams every day, very little regard is given to self-promotion or recognition,” Campbell said.

“It’s why the NZ Mortgage Awards are such an important night for advisers – it’s an opportunity to acknowledge the amazing work that would normally be overlooked as we get caught up in our busy lives.”

But more importantly, the awards set a new benchmark each year that the next generation of mortgage advisers aspire to and that helps to ensure the future of the industry is strong, said Campbell.

“It’s why we’re proud to be a partner of the upcoming NZ Mortgage Awards and look forward to celebrating the unsung champions in our industry,” she said.

You can nominate for the 2025 New Zealand Mortgage Awards here. Nominations close at 11.59pm on Friday, November 15, 2024.

For more details on the awards you can visit the NZMAs website.