In her own words, Louise is first and foremost a wife and mother. She is married to Ross and together they have four children. Louise has received the NZ Herald of the Year award in 2007; was awarded the Governor Generals ANZAC Award in 2015; was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2015 Queens Birthday Honours; received the New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Award 2015; and was a finalist in the 2016 New Zealander of the Year Awards. Louise was one of 50 women in New Zealand who received the Woman of Achievement Award from Zonta International and also received their Human Rights Award. In 2023, she founded the Louise Nicholas Trust, supporting Survivors and their families through the criminal justice system.  The Trust has 4 staff working within the courts of New Zealand.