Some of the biggest names in New Zealand have been chosen as finalists for the 2025 Voyager Media Awards.
114 finalists across 38 awards have been selected in New Zealand’s 52nd annual Media Awards by more than 60 judges in four countries – New Zealand, Australia, Rarotonga and the United States – who co-judged in groups of two and three to select winners from around 900 entries.
Winners will be announced at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards on Friday May 16, 2025, bringing the news media industry together to celebrate excellence in New Zealand journalism and the pivotal role that our journalists play in keeping New Zealanders informed. These awards aim to recognise and reward the best in the craft each year.
Full list of finalists
Photography
- Best Photography – Features
Braden Fastier | Nelson Mail / Stuff
Chris Skelton | Stuff
David Unwin | Stuff - Best Photography – News
Dean Purcell | NZ Herald / NZME
George Heard | NZ Herald / NZME
Stephen Jaquiery | Otago Daily Times / Allied Press - Best Photography – Sport
Andrew Cornaga | Photosport Ltd
Hannah Peters | Getty Images
Joe Allison | Getty Images - Best Photo Story
David Unwin | The Post / Stuff – Hīkoi mō te Tiriti
Richard Robinson | New Zealand Geographic / Kōwhai Media – The End of the Everywhere Bird
Stephen Jaquiery | Otago Daily Times / Allied Press – For Dear Life - Photographer of the Year
Chris Skelton | The Press / Stuff
Iain McGregor | The Press / Stuff
Mike Scott | NZ Herald / NZME
Audio, Digital and Video
- Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling
Smoke Signals – Kate Newton, Hingyi Khong | RNZ
ThreeNews: Digital innovation – Keith Lynch, Claire Watson | Stuff
Whenua: Our land, our history – Andrew Laxon and team | NZ Herald / NZME - Best Shortform Video
Dunedin flood – landslide destroys house – Jared McCulloch | TVNZ
Kaipara District Council votes to disestablish Māori ward – Michael Craig | NZ Herald / NZME
Matapihi gang patch ban – Ripeka Timutimu, Roihana Nuri | Aukaha - Best Current Affairs (short) – Sponsored by NZ On Air
Children of Prisoners – Indira Stewart | TVNZ
NZ’s Secret Radioactive Waste Facility – Michael Morrah | NZ Herald / NZME
Who Killed Ariki? – Leighton Heikell | GSTV - Best Current Affairs (long) or Documentary – Sponsored by NZ On Air
Believers & Betrayers: Inside the Shincheonji ‘Cult’ – Indira Stewart, Will Green, Charlotte Mckenzie | TVNZ
Gang Mums – Indira Stewart, Rewi Heke, Jorja Parsons, Tom Hood | TVNZ
Myths & Maidens – Lisa Taouma | Coconet TV, RNZ - Best Original Podcast or Series
Juggernaut: The Story of the Fourth Labour Government with Toby Manhire | The Spinoff
Powder Keg with Jonathan Milne | newsroom.co.nz
Uncut Diamond Daniella with Daniella Smith and Dane Giraud | RNZ and Tama & George Productions - Video Journalist of the Year – Sponsored by NZ On Air
Henry McMullan | 1News / TVNZ
Mike Scott | NZ Herald / NZME
Zoe Madden-Smith | Re: News / TVNZ - Digital News Provider of the Year – Sponsored by Voyager Internet
NZ Herald / NZME
RNZ
Stuff Digital
All media
- Best Columnist, Opinion or Critique
Jesse Mulligan | VIVA / NZME
Joel MacManus | The Spinoff
Vaughn Davis | The Post, The Press, Waikato Times / Stuff - Best Up and Coming Journalist
Bonnie Jansen | NZ Herald / NZME
Fox Meyer | newsroom.co.nz
Maddy Croad | The Press / Stuff - Best Investigation
Buried Trauma: An Investigation into Orana Wildlife Park – Thomas Mead, Paul Deady, Laura James | 1News / TVNZ
Powder Keg – Jonathan Milne, Mike Wesley-Smith | newsroom.co.nz
The Darleen Tana Saga – Steve Kilgallon | Stuff - Best Scoop
Mother of missing Marokopa children speaks – Mata with Mihingarangi | RNZ
The Darleen Tana Saga – Steve Kilgallon | Stuff
Tipene Funerals Scandal – Raphael Franks | NZ Herald / NZME - Best Specialist Reporting
Barbara Dreaver | 1News / TVNZ
Jared Savage | NZ Herald / NZME
Sam Sherwood | Stuff - Best Coverage of a Major News Event
Kīngitanga Tangi – 1News / TVNZ
Philip Polkinghorne murder trial – NZ Herald / NZME
Sinking of HMNZS Manawanui – RNZ - Best Editorial Campaign or Project
Blood, Sweat and Tears – NZ Herald / NZME
Our Health is Priceless – Otago Daily Times / Allied Press
Whenua: Our land, our history – NZ Herald / NZME - Le Mana Pacific Award – Sponsored by ANZ Bank New Zealand
Children of Prisoners; Believers & Betrayers; Israel and the Pacific – Indira Stewart | TVNZ
The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior – Justin Gregory, James Nokise | RNZ
Untold Pacific History – Season 2 – Tuki Laumea, Damon Fepulea’I, Lisa Taouma | Coconet TV, RNZ - Te Tohu Kairangi Award – Sponsored by ANZ Bank New ZealandJohn Boynton | GSTVMihingarangi Forbes | RNZTe Aniwa Hurihanganui | 1News / TVNZ
- Cartoonist/Animator of the Year
Austin Milne | Otago Daily Times / Allied Press
Guy Body | NZ Herald / NZME
Sharon Murdoch | Stuff - Sports Journalist of the Year – Sponsored by Sport New Zealand
Bonnie Jansen | NZ Herald / NZME
Dana Johannsen | RNZ
Steve Kilgallon | Stuff - Business Journalist of the Year – Sponsored by Spark NZ
Jonathan Milne | newsroom.co.nz
Nicholas Jones | NZ Herald / NZME
Nikki Macdonald | The Post / Stuff - Gordon McLauchlan Journalism Award – Sponsored by Air New Zealand
Bridget Jones | Sunday – Rātapu / Stuff
Hikurangi Jackson | Whakaata Māori
Kim Knight | NZ Herald / NZME - Local Journalist of the Year – Sponsored by Air New Zealand
Alice Parminter | The Valley Profile
Joel MacManus| The Spinoff
Matthew Littlewood | Otago Daily Times / Allied Press - News Journalist of the Year – Sponsored by Air New Zealand
Barbara Dreaver | 1News / TVNZ
Michael Morrah | NZ Herald / NZME
Nadine Roberts | Stuff - Political Journalist of the Year
Andrea Vance | The Post / Stuff
Guyon Espiner | RNZ
Jamie Ensor | NZ Herald / NZME and Newshub / WBD - Editorial Leader of the YearJohn Hartevelt | RNZ
Keith Lynch | Stuff
Richard Sutherland | Newshub / WBD
Written
- Best News, Current Affairs or Specialist Publication
Consumer NZ
New Zealand Geographic / Kōwhai Media
The Spinoff - Best Newspaper Magazine
Sunday – Rātapu | Stuff
VIVA | NZME
Your Weekend – Rā Whakatā | Stuff - Junior Feature Writer of the Year
Federico Magrin | Stuff
Harriette Boucher | The Post / Stuff
Maddy Croad | The Press / Stuff - Feature Writer of the Year
Bill Morris | New Zealand Geographic / Kōwhai Media
Charlie Mitchell | The Press / Stuff
Pete McKenzie | Freelance – NZ Listener, North & South, NZ Geographic - Reporter of the Year – Sponsored by Voyager Internet
Anusha Bradley | RNZ
Nicholas Jones | NZ Herald / NZME
Paula Penfold | Stuff - Community Newspaper of the Year
Ashburton Guardian
Gulf News / Pendragon Press Ltd
Mahurangi Matters / Local Matters - Regional Newspaper of the Year
Hawke’s Bay Today / NZME
Rotorua Daily Post / NZME
Wairarapa Times-Age / Stuff - Weekly Newspaper of the Year
Herald on Sunday / NZME
Sunday Star-Times / Stuff
Weekend Herald / NZME - Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year
Otago Daily Times / Allied Press
The Post / Stuff
The Press / Stuff
