Bob Parker former Christchurch mayor has been nominated for New Zealander of the Year. At home in Christchurch, Parker said it came as a "complete surprise'' to have made it to the shortlist.

Parker said it was "lovely and pretty humbling'' to think someone cared enough to nominate him for the award in the first place. He said "That's a good feeling.'' However, Pop star Lorde and prizewinning author Eleanor Catton have not been able to make it to the list for New Zealander of the Year, both culled by a "tragedy of timing".

Both Lorde and Catton were perhaps the most successful New Zealanders worldwide in 2013, and their absence from a list of 10 semi-finalists which was released today was glaring.

Catton, with her West Coast-based novel `The Luminaries' on October 15 won the Man Booker Prize. Lorde, 16, jumped to No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States on October 2, being the youngest artist to go top in 26 years.

Glyn Taylor, National awards manager said nominations closed on September 30 which was before Catton and Lorde became globally famous. Bob Parker, founder of Trade Aid Vi Cottrell, and All Black skipper Richie McCaw are among the 10 semi-finalists for the 2014 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

Sophie Pascoe, the Paralympic champion has also been shortlisted for the Young New Zealander of the Year.