AHIA Finalists 2025 celebrating New Zealand hair excellence

Congratulations to the NZ AHIA Finalists for 2025.

The AHIA Creative Awards celebrate visionary talent in the hair industry across Australia and New Zealand. Now in its fifth year of celebrating excellence, the 2025 competition is bigger than ever, with a surge in entries, and finalists have now been revealed.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Alice Howard – Ryder Salon

Jess Wilson – Zibido Hair

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Allsop – Dharma Salon

COLLECTIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR

NZ Masters Collective – Michael Beel, Sean Mahoney, Kelly Manu, Andrew Cobeldick, Sara Allsop and Brownwyn Kronfeld

EDITORIAL HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR

Kelly Manu

HAIR MASTERPIECE OF THE YEAR 

Carl Manderson – Liberté Salon and Spa (3 entries)

Kelly Manu – Una

Michael Beel – Salute Hair Skin Spa

NORTH ISLAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Anthony Bayer – Anthony Bayer Hair

Carla Southan – Rawk Hairdressing

Heidi Christian – Heidi Christian

Tenielle Gillies – Flyger

SOUTH ISLAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Marque Morehu – M M Hair Studio

Sarah McGuigan, Savvy Hair

BTS DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR

Photographer: Apela Bell. MUA: Liz Hyun. Stylist: Claudia Li.

For Kelly Manu Collection New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year Collection

Photographer: Lou Hatten. MUA: Micheala McKendry. STYLIST: Sopheak Seng.

For Michael Beel New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year Collection

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Ann Marie Young – Jingles Hair Design

Kelly Manu – Una

Kylie Hayes – Moha Hairdressing

Michael Beel – Salute Hair Skin Spa

Sara Allsop – Dharma Salon

Shannon Dowd – Zibido Hair

Join us in congratulating our New Zealand finalists, winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on 30 June at The Star, Sydney. We wish you all the very best on the night.

Let’s celebrate the success and talent within New Zealand.

Congratulations from the team at HITO!