The awards are to be presented on Thursday night in a made-for-television special.
Smith (32) is nominated in three categories.
He is one of four players vying for the Super Rugby player of the year, facing off against Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu, Richie Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett.
He is nominated for the Tom French Memorial Cup which is given to the best Maori player in the season.
He is up against his Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon, along with Waikato women’s player Stacey Fluher.
Up for the All Blacks player of the year are Sam Cane, Dane Coles and Smith.
Smith had an outstanding year in which he was clearly the best halfback in the country.
There are others with Highlanders connections in the running to win prizes. One is Hawke’s Bay halfback Folou Fakatava, who is up for the Duane Monkley medal for the best player in the national provincial competition.
Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody has been nominated for the coach of the year for his deeds with Tasman, where he was co-coach of the side along with Andrew Goodman.
The winners of the player awards go into the contest to win the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial player of the year title.
The competition for the national team of the year is between the Crusaders, Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury women’s team and the Tasman side.
The five national sides — All Blacks, Black Ferns, the two sevens sides and the Maori All Blacks — are all in contention for the national team of the year.
