Auckland lawyer Mai Chen has been named in the shortlist of 10 people being considered for the 2016 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year award.

More than 330 nominations were received for these awards, which are now in their seventh year.

The judging panel was due to announce the final shortlist of three this month, and the winner will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards evening in Auckland on 17 February.

The managing partner of public and employment law specialists Chen Palmer, Ms Chen was also selected in the shortlist of 10 people for the 2014 New Zealander of the Year.

“Mai Chen is one of New Zealand most highly regarded public lawyers,” the contest organisers say.

“[Ms] Chen was awarded Next Magazine’s Business Woman of the Year in 2011, is a World’s Best New Zealander in the Kiwi Expatriates Network and has been named as one of New Zealand’s leading public lawyers in ALB Magazine, Legal 500, Asia Pacific Law Directory and the Chambers International Law Directory. In 2009 and 2010, Mai was featured in Unlimited magazine’s top influencers list.

“Mai has written Public Law Toolbox, published by LexisNexis in March 2012. She has published articles and conference papers and contributed to seven books and major reports, mainly in the public law area.”