26 Kiwi women set to make moves in 2026

Since landing a role on Shortland Street as a teenager, Frankie has been booked and busy. But in 2026, her star is set to go stratospheric. She plays Sina in the live-action remake of Moana. She recently wrapped filming on Jason Momoa’s latest action flick alongside Dave Bautista and local legend Temuera Morrison.

Behind the camera

Frankie has also stepped behind the camera as executive producer of the short film Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue, which has been submitted to the Academy Awards. We’ll have our fingers crossed when nominees are announced at the end of the month.

While many are manifesting a new self for the new year, Thomasin will dive into the past, with four period dramas hitting cinemas. She stars in The Testament of Ann Lee, with Amanda Seyfried; Fackham Hall, alongside Damian Lewis; Victorian Psycho, opposite Margaret Qualley, and The Uprising, with Andrew Garfield.

Becoming Audrey Hepburn

And just when you think she’s done it all, Thomasin steps into Audrey Hepburn’s shoes for a biopic exploring the star’s decades-long friendship with designer Givenchy.

It’s exciting to see a star born before our eyes and those who tuned in to last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup did just that every time then-18-year-old Braxton took the field. She topped the tournament’s try-scoring charts and earned Breakthrough Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards. She’s currently bringing that same prowess to the Sevens Series.

Pressure as privilege

“I think pressure is a privilege,” she says.

“Like, it’s a privilege to have this job, to be able to put on the Black Ferns jersey and to be able to train every day.”

Since joining the Sir John Kirwan Foundation in 2023, CEO Sarah’s mission has been to expand Mitey, their free in-school mental health education programme for primary and intermediate students.

“In 2026, my wish for Mitey is that mental health education becomes a non-negotiable part of every New Zealand classroom,” says Sarah.

A future that changes communities

“A future where every child learns how to look after their mental health is a future that changes families, schools and whole communities. That’s the dream I’m backing.”

To learn more, visit mitey.org.nz

It’s hard to believe that Grace is only a few years into her career, such is the mark she has made from the netball shooting circle. Her form is so dominant that some teams choose to have both keepers guarding her.

And it’s not just on the court that Grace is a leader – when Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down, Grace made sure her support for the Silver Ferns coach was known in the turbulent weeks that followed.

With a desire to teach children solution-focused climate education in a fun way, Science Owl founder Renee designed the Broken Umbrella Challenge, empowering young people to find new uses for broken household items. The Masterton-born scientist says the most satisfying part of her work is inspiring the next generation.

Seeing young minds imagine what’s possible

“I feel proud when a young girl calls me Dr Renee or asks about my PhD, and I can see her imagining herself in my role.”

To try the Broken Umbrella Challenge at home, visit scienceowl.education/shop

Switching to play under the New Zealand flag has proved lucky for Lulu. Months after the Te Anau- born star swapped the Swiss flag for ours in 2024, she made a dazzling run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals and was named WTA Newcomer of the Year.

A rising star inspiring the next generation

Tennis NZ chief executive Julie Paterson says her impact has been huge.

“It lifts our younger players, giving them something to aspire to.”

Grace made history as the first Kiwi to win a senior International Hockey Federation award, claiming Goalkeeper of the Year.

Black Sticks captain Olivia Shannon is effusive in her praise, saying, “Grace is a once-in-a-lifetime generational player. She has shaped and changed the way goalkeeping is played, inspiring not just our team, but future Black Sticks as well.”

When Miria embarked on a fitness journey, she was frustrated by the lack of activewear for women like her. Clearly, she wasn’t the only one who felt excluded, and when she launched Hine in 2018, she quickly grew a large and loyal customer base.

A brand with global ambitions

Last year, she rebranded as IA.ORIGIN – a gender-neutral brand with global ambitions.

“My goal is to create a brand that supports all people, represents all bodies, and proves you don’t have to compromise your values to build something meaningful and successful.”

Since she ran for mayor of Auckland at 22, Chloë has been making headlines. While her mayoral bid was unsuccessful, it wasn’t long before she landed a seat in Parliament and, in 2020, became only the second Green MP to win an electorate seat after her victory in Auckland Central.

A rising political leader

Her passionate advocacy for environmental protections and commonsense drug reforms has seen her rise through the ranks, and this year she will steer her party through the election campaign as co-leader, alongside Marama Davidson.

Brooke has had a meteoric rise in politics. Entering Parliament in 2020 as an ACT list MP, she was soon named deputy leader, with David Seymour calling her the “future of the party”. Three years later, she won Tāmaki – a longtime National stronghold – marking a milestone for ACT.

All eyes on 2026

Appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, and Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke became the second-youngest Cabinet minister in our country’s history. All eyes will be on her in 2026 to see if she can hold Tāmaki again.

After years of fertility struggles, Jaimee knows how challenging the road to motherhood can be. She founded Gingernut’s Angels – in memory of her stillborn daughter – to ease financial stress for families. Today Jaimee, now mum to Noa with partner Nick Mowbray, has allocated 197 grants.

Building a future of support

She says, “Our goal is to double the number of grants we can offer and build a truly sustainable fund so we can keep saying yes to more families. We want people to know that even in the hardest moments, hope is not lost.”

Visit gingernutsangels.com to learn more.

As an independent artist, Georgia has put in blood, sweat and tears to make her mark. After becoming a staple on the Kiwi charts, she has moved to Nashville to chase global success with her US agent, who also represents Coldplay.

Letting creativity lead

“I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but that’s part of the excitement,” she enthuses.

“It’s about putting myself in a place where creativity can stretch and grow. Nashville feels like the place to do that.”

Former journalist Oriini’s convincing win in last year’s Auckland by-election was a clear message from constituents – they were ready for a fresh voice to represent them in Parliament. She already knows what it takes to break barriers as the first wahine with a moko kauae to present a primetime news bulletin. Now she’s ready to take her history of advocacy for te reo Māori to the next level.

She declared in her maiden address, “I’ve introduced te reo Māori into every space I’ve walked in and I have no intention of stopping now.”

Inspired by her hospitality background, Michal dreamed of reducing food waste. That dream became Foodprint, an app redirecting some of the 50,000 tonnes of avoidable waste from landfill to customers at a fraction of the price.

Making a global impact

“I’m most proud of the impact we’ve made, preventing 350 tonnes of CO2-e [carbon dioxide equivalent] from warming our planet,” Michal enthuses.

“In 2026, our main focus is expanding our offering with new eateries.”

Head to foodprint.org.nz to find out more.

When Corinne was widowed at 29, she saw the lack of bereavement support and launched Griefity – an app offering education, coping tools and guidance – that is now available in 17 countries.

“I’m proud that we built a little app here in Aotearoa that is now supporting people all over the globe through some of the hardest moments of their lives,” says Corrine.

For more information, visit griefity.com

Angelica is tackling the global diabetes crisis with Ceratec Health. Her start-up has developed three AI-powered technologies to detect diabetes early, and prevent related accidents and productivity losses. After a successful national beta trial, the company is building an international sales pipeline. With 570 million people with undiagnosed diabetes, Angelica’s mission is simple – to save lives.

To find out more, go to ceratec.health

In rural Taranaki, 800 Trust founder Miranda is redefining conservation with HARK – an AI-powered acoustic monitoring system that listens to the bush 24/7, identifying bird calls and detecting pests. The trust has also planted 28,000 native trees and hopes to expand its pest-trapping
area with additional support in 2026.

Measuring impact

“Our return on investment is measured in the survival of our species, the ancient trees and native insects, and just as crucially, in the futures we unlock for our rangatahi [youth],” Miranda explains.

If you would like to be part of the movement, follow 800 Trust on Facebook or contact Miranda directly at [email protected]

Few artists can take a seven-year break and return to the same acclaim, but Fazerdaze, aka Amelia Murray, has done just that. Her self-produced sophomore album Soft Power, recorded at her home in Christchurch, won Album of the Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards, alongside Best Solo Artist. But for Amelia, music’s greatest gift is self-belief.

“I’ve found so much meaning in trusting my own voice and intuition again, and joy in the amazing people I get to work with,” she says.

With new leader Qiulae at the helm, Opportunity – formerly the Opportunities Party – hopes this is the year they gain a voice in Parliament.

“We’re building a movement for everyone who believes in real fairness, ambition and a strong democracy in divided times,” says the mum of two.

A legacy to inspire her daughters

“One day, I want to look my daughters in the eye and say I did every-thing I could to create a New Zealand they can be proud of.”

Qiulae brings experience in implementing ethical, sustainable practices across global fashion brands and, most recently, at KPMG NZ.

Since taking office, Minister of Education Erica has driven major reforms to lift classroom outcomes. She banned phones, revamped the primary maths curriculum, scrapped NCEA and secured a $747 million boost for learning support. Next on her agenda: a policy similar to Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s.

A personal mission

“I will be leading the policy work, and getting it right and effective will be really important,” explains Erica.

“This one is really personal to me. I have seen the damage it does to kids and I feel very strongly we need to protect them from that.”

Former tax lawyer Barbara is Labour’s finance spokesperson and this year she’ll hold the nation’s purse-strings as finance minister if there’s a change of government. She is known for her pragmatic approach and clear communication.

A vision rooted in responsibility

As she shared at the recent Labour conference, “My vision is a country that believes in itself and backs itself. As a mother of eight, I know what it means to manage responsibly and make every dollar count. Taxpayers’ money should be spent with the same care.”

Inspired by her mother’s mantra, “Girls can do anything,” Dellwyn has dedicated her life to gender equality. She co-founded the Mind the Gap campaign, advocating for mandatory pay gap reporting, serves on the board of the National Council of Women of New Zealand and led YWCA as CEO for six years.

Though Aotearoa has made progress, Dellwyn says, “There is still so much to do to get to true equality for all.”

At just 25, Melie is regarded as one of the world’s best all-rounders. She has been named Women’s Cricketer of the Year and T20I Player of the Year, and won the Debbie Hockley Medal three years in a row.

Breaking records and stigma

Returning to India’s T20 league this year, she became its most expensive foreign player, earning $585,450. Off the pitch, Melie is a fierce advocate for mental health. She took a break from the sport in 2021 to focus on her battle with anxiety and depression.

After nearly a decade working in America, Keisha, of Ngāti Te Ata and Ngāti Porou descent, has returned to Aotearoa to uplift the next generation of indigenous storytellers.

Now Commissioner at Whakaata Māori, the Whale Rider star is committed to championing Māori stories and revitalising te reo Māori in media.

A career full circle

“Coming home to work in these spaces feels like a true privilege,” she says.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career as an actor, and to now be able to work in Māori-led spaces, uplifting our stories, our reo and our creatives truly feels invigorating. It’s the return to the kaupapa [principles] that shaped me.”

She’s the star of last year’s Spark ad and a favourite of the Kiwi theatre scene. Our insider sources tell us Liv will be the name on everyone’s lips this year, with appearances in numerous exciting projects.

Living the dream

“Being a performer is all I have dreamed about since I was a kid,” says Liv, whose brother is comedian Chris Parker.

“There are a couple of projects that sit close to my heart that will be released this year and I feel beyond excited!”