New Zealand Journalism Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Media
The landscape of New Zealand media is defined by a commitment to truth, storytelling, and investigative rigor. The latest journalism awards highlight the individuals and organizations that have pushed the boundaries of reporting, from digital innovation to long-form feature writing and courageous investigative work.
These awards recognize the diverse ways in which news is consumed today, honoring traditional print newspapers alongside cutting-edge digital platforms and videography. By celebrating these achievements, the industry sets a benchmark for quality and ethics in public discourse.
Key Facts
- Reporter of the Year: Awarded to Melanie Reid of Newsroom.co.nz.
- Photographer of the Year: Awarded to Iain McGregor of Stuff.
- Videographer of the Year: Jointly awarded to Alexander Robertson (NZME/Very Nice Productions) and Mike Scott (The New Zealand Herald).
- Newspaper of the Year: The Press (for circulation over 30,000) and Waikato Times (for circulation up to 30,000).
- Magazine of the Year: New Zealand Geographic.
Digital Innovation and Storytelling
As audiences shift toward screens, digital storytelling has become a cornerstone of modern journalism. The award for Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling was shared by rnz.co.nz for "Great Southern TV and Animation Research" and "NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka." This category emphasizes the use of interactive elements to bring complex histories to life.
In the realm of accessibility and user experience, nzherald.co.nz took home the prize for Best News Website or App, while Newsroom.co.nz and Stuff were jointly named Website of the Year.
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Excellence in Feature Writing
Feature writing allows for a deeper dive into the human experience, whether through personal essays or long-form investigations. The awards were split across several formats and genres:
Long-form and Short-form Features
Kate Evans, writing for New Zealand Geographic and North & South, was named Feature Writer of the Year in the long-form category. Other notable winners include Simon Wilson (Arts, entertainment and lifestyle) and Mike White (Crime, justice and social issues). In the short-form category, Tess McClure of VICE earned the title of Feature Writer of the Year.
Specialized Feature Categories
The awards also recognized excellence in specific beats, with Peter Wells (The Spinoff) winning for best first-person essay, and Rebecca Macfie (New Zealand Listener) winning for business and personal finance.
Reporting and Investigative Journalism
Reporting remains the heartbeat of the industry, with a strong emphasis on accountability and social justice. Melanie Reid of Newsroom.co.nz achieved a double win, taking both Reporter of the Year and Best (single) news story for "Politicians, police, and the payout."
Investigative work was heavily highlighted, with Olivia Carville (NZ Herald) winning Best Investigation for "What becomes of the Broken Hearted," and the Stuff Circuit team winning Best Team Investigation for "The Valley, New Zealand's war in Afghanistan."
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Visual Arts and Videography
Journalism is not only about the written word but also the power of the image. Iain McGregor (Stuff) was named Photographer of the Year, while the visual landscape was further enriched by the work of Toby Morris (The Spinoff and The Wireless), who won for Best artwork/graphics.
In videography, the industry recognized the importance of visual news delivery. The New Zealand Herald's "Under The Bridge" won Best team video – feature, and 1 News Now was recognized for its coverage of Edgecumbe's flood defenses.
Summary of Major Award Winners
| Category | Winner | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Reporter of the Year | Melanie Reid | Newsroom.co.nz |
| Photographer of the Year | Iain McGregor | Stuff |
| Feature Writer of the Year (Long) | Kate Evans | NZ Geographic / North & South |
| Opinion Writer of the Year | Steve Braunias | NZ Herald |
| Magazine of the Year | N/A | New Zealand Geographic |
| Voyager Newspaper of the Year | N/A | Weekend Herald |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was named the Reporter of the Year?
Melanie Reid from Newsroom.co.nz was named the Reporter of the Year.
Which publication won Magazine of the Year?
New Zealand Geographic was awarded the title of Magazine of the Year.
Who won the award for Best Investigation?
Olivia Carville of the NZ Herald won Best Investigation for her work titled "What becomes of the Broken Hearted."
Which newspapers were recognized as Newspaper of the Year?
The Press won for newspapers with a circulation of more than 30,000, and the Waikato Times won for those with a circulation up to 30,000.
Who received the Science and Technology Award?
The Science and Technology Award was jointly awarded to Donna Chisholm (North & South, NZ Listener) and Kate Evans (New Zealand Geographic and North & South).