Beloved children’s author and illustrator Lynley Dodd says it feels "incredible" to be awarded the Fisher Funds New Zealand legacy award at the New Zealander of the Year Awards last night.
Dodd is most known for her Hairy Maclary series, particularly the first edition, Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy, which was published in 1983 and sold millions of copies worldwide.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Dodd said the support was “a little bit overwhelming”, and she tried “not to think about it too much, otherwise [it’s] terrifying”.
“Sometimes [people] sort of forget there is a person behind Hairy Maclary, he exists on his own and just sorted invented himself I think.”
On the inspiration for Hairy Maclary, Dodd said she had “known a lot of dogs over the years”, that all helped create the much-loved character.
“I don’t ever remember seeing one that looked like Hairy Maclary. He’s a bit of a mixture.”
Dodd added, when writing the books, she aimed for the parent and the child to find enjoyment in reading together.
“I remember my picture books when I was a child and some of them were deadly boring. I couldn’t imagine how parents could get enthusiastic about it, so I’m determined to write books that parents sit and enjoy too.
“A child knows if a parent is getting a little bit bored.”
When creating the books, Dodd said she tried to make a separate world for the dogs which exists alongside the human world.
“It began with something real. We lived in Lower Hutt up in the hills in Belmont where my children were growing up, and sometimes because I was working at home I would see a gang of dogs coming up the hill. There were about four or five of them.
“It was over a period, which seemed to go on, and I remember they seemed to visit all the letterboxes on the way out.”
Local hero of the year
Mā Te Huruhuru chief executive Māhera Maihi spoke to Breakfast after being awarded the Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year award. (Source: Breakfast)
Mā Te Huruhuru chief executive Māhera Maihi was awarded the Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year award.
She was recognised for her efforts in transforming lives and communities by championing a kaupapa of systemic change, equity, and compassion in tackling homelessness and poverty through the charitable trust she founded in 2020.
Speaking to Breakfast, Maihi said Mā Te Huruhuru was a youth organisation based in South Auckland with three main objectives.
“That is to house young people who are facing housing insecurities; to run youth employment programmes so we can get peolpe on the job market and increasing their household incomes; and, thirdly, to deliver youth suicide prevention kaupapa, so we can create life saving champions in South Auckland.”
Maihi said she “is feeling all the things” after being recognised for her work.
“I am still on a high from last night. I had new heels so I have got blisters on my feet right now,” she laughed.
“It means such a lot to the kaupapa, I think, bringing awareness to youth homelessness, I’m so glad it’s finally on the radar. For so long it’s been an invisible issue in plain sight, so the fact its now got its own mana motuhake, I’m very excited about.”
She hoped the award would lead to more awareness, data, and funding.
“Last Budget, we lost about $60 million for Māori, and young people housing, so I’m hoping that all comes back to us.”
She said there has been an increase in family breakdowns that did not appear to be improving.
“I believe that has something to do with stressors in the family, financial, the pinch of the cost of living, it puts a strain on families so they’re running out of patience with each other.
“There’s a lot of mental health as well, a lot of addiciton, young people having social anxiety, maybe not stay committed to a job, not having a regular income, so not being able to pay their rent and those kinds of things.”
Other winners at the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards
Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year: Sir Rod Drury – pioneering entrepreneur and founder of Xero, continuing to shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s technology landscape through innovation, investment, and mentorship.
Go Media Young New Zealander of the Year: Lucy Blakiston – founder and CEO of Shit You Should Care About, empowering millions of young people to engage critically with global issues and shape a more informed, compassionate world.
Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year: Alan and Hazel Kerr – turned retirement into a lifetime of service, saving the lives of nearly 800 children through two decades of volunteer medical missions to Palestine.
2degrees New Zealand Innovator of the Year: Craig Piggott – through his leadership at Halter, Craig Piggott’s vision is positioning Aotearoa New Zealand at the forefront of global agritech innovation, advancing solutions that benefit farmers, animals, and the environment.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year: Mike Casey – As CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, Mike Casey (Ngāti Kahangungu ki Wairarapa) is a driving force in Aotearoa New Zealand’s transformation towards sustainable energy, reshaping conversations on climate justice and electrification, and proving that green innovation is not only possible but profitable.
Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau: Safeguarding Children Initiative – for reshaping our national response to child abuse and neglect, uniting over 85,000 advocates in a shared commitment to protect tamariki and rangatahi.
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