"So many inspiring people - every one a winner in my eyes,'' he said after the event.
"You couldn't help but be moved by some of their stories; young children defying the odds and succeeding over adversity. Truly amazing.''
The 42-year-old won the Spirit of Attitude Award in Auckland last week, for overcoming hardships to achieve personal goals, and for putting his own disability aside to advance the wellbeing of others.
"It is nice to be acknowledged for all of my achievements, but at the same time, that is not why I do the things I do. I'm just trying to get the ‘old Nick' back.''
Mr Chisholm has locked-in syndrome - a rare condition caused by several strokes of the brain stem in 2000 which left all his cognitive faculties intact, but his body unresponsive.
He requires 24-hour care and communicates with his eyes using an e-tran alphabet board.
Despite doctors telling his family he would probably not survive, he has fought to achieve many things against all odds, including regaining enough bodily function to win several New Zealand wheelchair body building competitions.
Winning the competitions inspired him to start a programme called Wheelchair Warriors - a gym programme which is aimed at helping other disabled people in the community with their recoveries.
Mr Chisholm and his personal trainer, Shane Waldron, also organised the Spartans rugby tournament - a 10-a-side rugby competition which raised $11,000 for the New Zealand Rugby Foundation Seriously Injured Players' Fund in January this year.
It is hoped the tournament will become an annual event and the next tournament is already being organised for February.
Mr Chisholm maintains the greatest reward from his achievements, so far, had been meeting wife Nicola online.
"I would never have met her if I hadn't made enough gains in the gym to move my arms and use the computer.
"I love my life so much and can't imagine that it would be anywhere near as great if I were able-bodied.''
Attitude Trust chairman Dan Buckingham said the awards had grown out of the Attitude television series, which screens on Sunday mornings and celebrates outstanding achievements across a broad and diverse sector of society.
"It was such a difficult process to determine the winners, as all of the 24 finalists were absolutely fantastic in their own right.‘‘It is a privilege to be able to tell all of their stories and celebrate their successes,'' he said.
Award winners were: ACC Supreme Award and Youth Award, Muskan Devta (Auckland); Courage in Sport Award, Otis Horne (Hastings); Spirit of Attitude Award, Nick Chisholm (Dunedin); Making A Difference Award, Rachel Callander (Timaru); ACC Employer Award, CQ Hotels (Wellington); Artistic Achievement Award, Salem Foxx (Raumati Beach); Junior Award, Nicholas Brockelbank (Cambridge); Sport Performer of the Year, Michael Johnson (Auckland); Hall of Fame inductee, Gary Williams (Wellington); People's Choice Award, Sean Prendeville (Raumati Beach).
