He's shown the world who we are, and now filmmaker Taika Waititi has been named the 2017 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

Chief judge Cameron Bennett said the man behind coming-of-age Kiwi hits Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy was talented, inspiring and a "thoroughly worthy recipient" of the supreme award.

"Taika Waititi is an exciting and inspiring example of who and what we are as Kiwis. Creative, courageous, audacious, subversive and downright funny, he's at the forefront of New Zealand filmmaking and the arts.

"Taika's outstanding contribution has not only been rewarded with record box-office success at home - he's also been highly successful in showcasing who and what we are to the world."

The 2005 Oscar nominee's films represented the importance of whanau, of belonging and the challenges facing youth at the margins of society, Bennett said.

41-year-old Waititi is working in Los Angeles and was unable to receive the award in person. His wife, Chelsea Winstanley collected it on his behalf from Prime Minister Bill English.

Winstanley was accompanied by Hunt for the WIlderpeople's young breakout star Julian Dennison as she also collected the Kiwibank kaitaka huaki cloak, Pouhine, from last year's New Zealander of the Year, Richie McCaw.

As well as his success as a writer, director, actor, comedian, visual artist and story teller, Waititi is also passionate about engaging youth in the arts as a positive outlet for creativity.

He has spoken publicly about child poverty and youth suicide.

Two other high-achieving Kiwis were finalists for the supreme award. 

They were educator and researcher, professor Mere Berryman, and the Salvation Army's Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit principal Advisor Major Campbell Roberts.

Winners were also announced tonight in five other categories.

Auckland lawyer Rez Gardi, who came to New Zealand as a refugee aged six, was named Young New Zealander of the Year for services to human rights, and former Royal New Zealand Ballet general manager Sue Paterson was chosen as Senior New Zealander of the Year. 

The Wellington woman was recognised for her services to the arts.

Auckland doctor Ed Gane, who lead a team that developed a cure for hepatitis C, is the 2017 Innovator of the year for services to health. 

Another Aucklander, Hayden Smith, a tireless advocate for cleaning up our marine environments, is the 2017 Local Hero of the Year for services to conservation.

Community of the Year is Randwick Park in South Auckland. 

The community came under a dark cloud with the 2008 murder of store owner Navtej Singh, but a small group of residents had worked together to transform the tiny suburb into a place where residents, especially youth, are encouraged and supported, according to New Zealander of the Year category biographies.

There were 375 nominations for this year's awards.​