DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been nominated to be New Zealander of the Year, according to media reports from across the ditch.

Mr Joyce is fighting to keep his job after a dual citizenship scandal when he revealed he was a Kiwi by descent through his father, despite being born in Australia.

media_camera Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been nominated for a New Zealander of the Year award. Picture: AAP

According to the New Zealand Herald, Mr Joyce is one of the frontrunners for the award.

A spokesperson for the annual awards told the New Zealand Herald Mr Joyce’s eligibility for the awards will be assessed after nominations close on September 18.

New Zealander of the Year Awards national manager Glyn Taylor said a panel of judges would decide who wins the award, not the number of nominations received by a candidate.

“At the end of the nominations period we will seek confirmation from Mr Joyce as to his eligibility to be considered for 2018 New Zealander of the Year,” he said.

“The first of these will be confirming his citizenship status.

“Anyone can make a nomination but to be eligible, nominees must be over the age of 15 and either a New Zealand citizen or have held a permanent Residents Visa for a minimum period of five years at the time of nomination.”

Mr Joyce had received confirmation his NZ citizenship had been renounced by August 15, just one day after he revealed his dual status.

The awards are sponsored by Kiwibank, according to the New Zealander of the Year Awards website.