New Zealand Branch awards
The New Zealand Branch of the ASA currently offers four awards:
- New Investigator Award
- SAANZ Emerging Researcher Award
- SAANZ Distinguished Service Award
- SJ Paine Award
Details can be found below.
Inaugural SJ Paine Award
The New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Sleep Association is pleased to invite applications for the inaugural SJ Paine Award.
This new award honours the exceptional contributions of Professor Sarah Jane (SJ) Paine (Tūhoe), a leading Māori epidemiologist whose work has transformed understanding of sleep as a critical determinant of health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
About the Award
The SJ Paine Award supports research that advances knowledge of or enhances Māori sleep health in Aotearoa New Zealand. Funding can be used to support a wide range of research-related activities, including project costs, engagement with communities (e.g., koha and kai), data collection, advisory groups, and dissemination within Aotearoa.
In 2026, two awards of NZD $2,500 are available.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be current New Zealand members of the Australasian Sleep Association. Postgraduate students are encouraged to apply.
Download the Award criteria
How to apply
Complete the application form and submit it via email to [email protected].
Key dates
- Applications close: 31 July 2026
For further information or enquiries, please contact [email protected].
We warmly encourage researchers committed to advancing Māori sleep health to apply and be part of this important legacy.
Sleep in Aotearoa New Investigator Awards
Each year, the New Zealand Branch of the ASA invites applications for a New Investigator Award. Applicants present their research at the Sleep in Aotearoa conference. Applicants must be New Zealand ASA members and at an early stage of their career, and may have either completed research or clinical training in Aotearoa. The original work presented must have been carried out during or shortly after the applicant’s training (up to and including PhD studies or an equivalent).
Applications for the 2026 New Investigator Award have now closed. Applications for 2027 will be available in early March.
New investigator award recipients
2025 award sponsored by the NZ branch and Apex Medical Ltd
Sarahmarie Kuroko, University of Otago, Dunedin, for her presentation titled ‘Zooming in on bedtime routine activities and subsequent sleep among preschool-aged tamariki: A wearable camera study’.
2024 award sponsored by the NZ branch and Apex Medical Ltd
Shay-Ruby Wickham, University of Otago, Dunedin, for her presentation on the influence of objective measures of screen use before bed and in bed on adolescent sleep.
2023 award sponsored by the NZ branch and Apex Medical Ltd
Louise (Lou) Fangupo, University of Otago, Dunedin, for her presentation entitled ‘Development of the Perception of Infant and Toddler Sleep Scale (PoITSS) for whānau (families) with pēpi (infants) in Aotearoa New Zealand’.
SAANZ awards
In 2020, the Sleep Apnoea Association of New Zealand (SAANZ) Inc. wound up and, in 2022, generously donated its remaining funds to the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA). SAANZ was originally established as a community health service and support group for people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and their whānau.
In recognition of SAANZ’s contribution to sleep health in Aotearoa New Zealand, and with its permission, the NZ Branch Executive uses these funds to support annual awards for members who make significant contributions to the field of sleep across both early and established career stages. The SAANZ Awards will continue until the donated funds are fully expended.
Two awards are offered each year:
- Emerging Researcher Award
- Distinguished Service Award
The awards are presented annually at the Sleep in Aotearoa conference.
Nominations
Nominations are now open for the 2026 SAANZ Awards.
A nomination must include a 0.5–1 page overview outlining the nominee’s contribution to sleep in Aotearoa New Zealand. Email nominations to [email protected]. Applications for 2026 are due on 3 June 2026.
Eligibility criteria
- Nominees must be current New Zealand members of the ASA
- Emerging Researcher Award:
- Must have completed their research training in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Must be within 5 years of their highest qualification
- Distinguished Service Award:
- Must have demonstrated sustained contributions to sleep in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Service must span at least 10 years
Emerging researcher award recipients
2025
Dr Rosaline (Rosie) Jackson (University of Otago, Dunedin) for producing high-quality work, making cross-disciplinary contributions, and demonstrating a strong dedication to improving sleep health in tamariki (children).
2024
Dr Margo van den Berg (Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University) for research excellence and her contribution to fatigue science in Aotearoa New Zealand.
2023
Dr Diane (Dee) Muller (Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University) for research excellence and contribution to sleep health inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Distinguished service award recipients
2025
Dr Andrew (Andy) Veale (New Zealand Respiratory and Sleep Institute (NZRSI)) for his extensive and long-standing dedication to advancing sleep health in Aotearoa New Zealand, along with his unwavering advocacy for patients with sleep disorders.
2024
Professor Alister Neill (Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington) for outstanding clinical practice, research, and service to the field of sleep over many years, with significant contributions made locally, nationally, and internationally.
2023
Emeritus Professor Dawn Elder (Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Wellington) for significant and sustained contributions to paediatric sleep medicine and sleep health at the clinical and research level, as well as considerable and sustained community service to sleep across Aotearoa.