AUGUSTA AWARDS
The Augusta Awards
The annual Augusta Awards evolved from the Association's Old Boy of the Year Award. These awards are given to Old Boys who are at the top of their respective industries or specialties, or who have demonstrated a remarkable contribution to the fields of Arts, Business, Sport and/or Public Service. The awards recognise Old Boys who have made a significant contribution in their chosen field, who have made a positive impact in their field throughout their careers, and have used their talents to encourage and inspire others to follow their lead.
The Augusta Awards are for Old Boys who have achieve at the highest level in their chosen career or profession; or through their achievements made an outstanding contribution to or demonstrated leadership in their profession, their community, New Zealand or the world. Award categories are Academia, Arts, Business, Service and Sport.
The Lion Award is for a younger Old Boy who, at an earlier stage of their career, are demonstrating leadership and/or remarkable achievement for their age. Early achievement may include attaining a national sporting achievement, being a senior executive or director reaching partnership in a notable professional service. The award recognises Old Boys who demonstrate outstanding leadership, integrity, excellence, respect, courage, pride, commitment and humility, and are in early or mid-career
If you know someone who you think is a suitable candidate for either award, please submit your nomination by filling in the online form here. Ensure that you send supporting information or other documents to agsoba@ags.school.nz.
2025 Augusta Award recipients
2025 Lion Award recipient
The Lion Award recipient for 2025 is Matt Macdonald '12.
Matt (pictured far left) joined the School's Rowing squad in Form 4, becoming a member of the Under 15 Novice and the A Crew Coxed Pairs. Matt continued to rise through the ranks. He was a member of both the Under 15 and Under 16 Eights. In 2015, Matt was a member of the Under 17 Eights crew who were third at the annual Maadi Cup.
Matt was named as Captain of Rowing in 2016 and received several awards, including the Barry Cleal Cup for Most Outstanding Crew as a member of the Under 18 Pair with Damien Gleye (after their second-place finish at the Karapiro Regatta 2), the Jim Cusack Cup (for Best Oarsman), and Sports Colours for Rowing.

After graduating from Auckland Grammar School, Matt won Silver in the New Zealand Junior Men's Coxless four at the World Rowing Junior Championships in 2017. Winning Gold in the Under 22 team, the Under 20 Pairs and the Under 22 Coxless Four at the National Championships, Matt made the Under 23 Men's Coxless Four who won Bronze at the World Rowing Championships in Poland. and a first senior Worlds in 2019 with the eight.
Matt received a Red Coat in 2019, and in the same year, he was selected into the Elite Men's Eight crew, sitting in 7-seat bowside. This crew would win Gold at the World Rowing Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland and then history was made. In Matt's Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021 - and after a near 50-year wait - the Men's Eight would go onto to win Olympic Gold.
In 2022, Matt teamed up with Tom Mackintosh in the Elite Men's Pair and would go onto win Gold at the Henley Royal Regatta, receiving the Silver Goblets and the Nickalls Challenge Cup. Recast back into the Men's Four in 2023 and after winning Bronze at the World Championships, the crew competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where they took home the Silver medal.
Previous recipients
2024 Augusta Awardees | Dr Gordon Nicholson, ONZM '45 Professor Boyd Swinburn '67 Matthew Whineray '82 Grammar Lion Award recipient - Hamish Kerr '10 |
2023 Augusta Awardees | Uluomato'otua (Ulu) Aiono, ONZM '68 Dr Osmond (Bruce) Hadden, CNZM '55 Professor Philip Hill '81 Grammar Lion Award recipient - Aaron Gate '04 |
2022 Augusta Awardees | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no awardees were announced in 2022 |
2021 Augusta Awardees | Dr Jock Carnachan, MNZM '59 Dr Robert (Rob) Kirkpatrick '64 Robert (Bob) Narev, ONZM, MNZM '50 Grammar Lion Award recipient - Kyle Jamieson '08 |
2020 Augusta Awardees | Ian Bissett '68 Mark Burgess '58 Greg Cross '72 Grammar Lion Award recipient - Dr Henry Wong Doe '90 |
2019 Augusta Awardees | Alan Galbraith, QC '57 Dr Alastair MacCormick '57 D. Scott Milne '69 Peter Thompson '76 Grammar Lion Award recipient - Fady Mishriki '95 |
2018 Augusta Awardees | Stephen Jacobi '73 Professor Richie Poulton, CNZM '76 The Honourable Justice Lyn Stevens, QC '60 Inaugural Grammar Lion Award recipient - Anthony Hoy Fong '91 |
2017 Augusta Awardees | The Honourable Sir Roger Douglas '51 - Service Don McKenzie, CNZM, OBE '55 - Service Roger Moses, ONZM '68 - Service Eugene Paykel '47 - Academia |
2016 Augusta Awardees | Sir Michael Friedlander, CNZM, KNZM '49 - Service Emeritus Professor David Gerrard, CNZM, OBE '58 - Sport, Service and Academia Emeritus Professor Murray Meikle '52 - Academia |
2015 Augusta Awardees | Dr Harold Coop '47 Professor Digby MacDonald '57 Ian Narev '80 |
2014 Augusta Awardees |
John Barnett, ONZM '59 - Arts Dr Nigel Evans, '53 ONZM - Service Sir Christopher Mace, CNZM '55 - Business Professor Peter McNaughton '62 - Academia |
2013 Augusta Awardees |
Dr Raoul Franklin, CBE '48 - Academia Professor Alan Kirkness '54 - Academia Greer Twiss '52 - Arts |
2011 Augusta Awardees |
Sir David Baragwanath, KNZM '54 - Service Sir James McNeish, KNZM '44 - Arts Bruce Plested '55 - Business Andrew Simester '80 - Academia |
2010 Augusta Awardees |
Howard Harper '44 - Service Professor Cedric Hassall '33 - Academia Victor Percival, ONZM '43 - Business |
2009 Augusta Awardees |
Denis Feeney '68 - Academia Max Gimblett, ONZM '50 - Arts The Right Honourable Sir Duncan McMullin '40 - Service |
2008 Augusta Awardees |
Gus Fisher, ONZM '35 - Arts and Business Sir Patrick Eisdell Moore '30 - Service Mark Warner '65 - Academia |
2007 Augusta Awardees | Sir John Buchanan '56 - Service Professor Peter Hunter '62 - Academia The Honourable Peter Watson, ONZM '66 - Service |
2006 Old Boy of the Year | Professor Sir Graham Liggins '39 |
2005 Old Boy of the Year | Hamish Carter, ONZM '85 |
2004 Old Boy of the Year | His Excellency, the Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith, ONZ KBE QC '51 |
2003 Old Boy of the Year | Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu, ONZ FRS (NZ) '40 |