Media industry celebrates wins at 2025 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards

RNZ, NZME, Newsroom and the Pacific Media Network are all celebrating success following the announcement of the 2025 NZ Radio & Podcast Award winners last night on June 5.

NZME was one of the most awarded, coming away with more than 30 awards, including eight premier, across its stable of platforms, journalists and presenters.

Jason Winstanley, NZME’s chief audio officer, says the Awards honour the talented individuals and teams working across New Zealand’s radio and digital audio industry. 

“Running our radio stations and digital audio platforms around the clock requires a huge amount of dedication and commitment from multiple people across NZME.

“It’s fantastic to recognise our talented on-air hosts and teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes, all who share a deep love for this cherished media platform.”

Wins for RNZ

RNZ‘s Alexa Cook, who is the Tairāwhiti regional reporter and often fills in on Morning Report on RNZ National, won Best Journalist. Reporter Kate Green was awarded Best New Journalist.

The national broadcaster’s journalists were also recognised with the Best Team Coverage award for their work on the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui. They were also a finalist in the same category for coverage of the tangi of Kiingi Tuheitia.

Sunday Morning host Jim Mora was recognised for his Services to Broadcasting. RNZ also picked up a number of awards in the podcast section, with the RNZ National being named as best podcast producer or producing team.

Podcast Our Changing World was named best factual daily or weekly feature and Nellie’s Baby, a podcast by investigative journalist Kirsty Johnston, won best society and culture podcast.

The Rock leads MediaWorks’ wins

MediaWorks took home 14 awards across content, marketing, creative, sales and sound. The Rock led the charge with five.

The Rock’s wins include: Best Music Feature for “The Rock 2000”, Best Content Director/Content Team, Best Show Producer or Producing Team – Music Show for “The Morning Rumble”, Best Music Network Team for The “#1 music Drive” show and Best Network Station Promotion for “Hit the Lights”.

More FM Northland also won Local Station of the Year, Local Music Breakfast Show or Host and Best Single Market Promotion.

“These wins are a true reflection of the incredible talent and hard work that goes into creating compelling, entertaining and distinctly Kiwi content,” says MediaWorks director of content Leon Wratt. 

PMN’s key awards

The Pacific Media Network‘s PMN Niue received the Best Pacific Language Programme award, which recognised the contributions of Faama Viliamu, Leitualaalemalietoa Lynn Lolokini Ikimotu Pavihi, Jorinda Heka, Vicar Igasiatama Mokole, Inangaro Vakaafi, Luana Bennion, Sariah Magaoa, Susana Guttenbeil, Jioji Vai, Harrison Edwards and Paul Lisi.

Joseph Safiti won the Best Video – Long Form award for FOS, a project he led on behalf of the media network’s youth brand, NiuFM, for the Pacific Music Awards.

Pacific Media Network producer Lui Vilisoni-Oliver received a Services to Broadcasting award, for outstanding contributions to Pacific media and promoting Pacific music and culture in Aoteaora.

Vilisoni-Oliver is also part of the Brown Street Media team who Best Independent Podcast for Nickson & Nate.

Newsroom’s podcasts recognised

Newsroom took out Best True Crime Podcast for The Boy in the Water, which examines the death of young boy Lachie Jones in Gore in January 2019.

The Detail, produced by Newsroom for RNZ, won the Best News and Current Affairs Podcast for the second year in a row. The team produces six podcasts a week which are published across Newsroom, RNZ, Apple and Spotify.

Awards for Newstalk ZB and its hosts

Newstalk ZB won Station of the Year – Network, with hosts Heather du Plessis-Allan winning the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year, Mike Hosking picking up the Best Talk Presenter – Breakfast or Drive for the 11th time and Marcus Lush was awarded Best Talk Presenter – Non-Breakfast or Drive for the ninth consecutive year.

Jason Pine, who hosts Weekend Sport was a joint winner alongside Sport Nation for the Best Sports Presenter or Commentator. Newsreader Niva Retimanu was honoured for her services to broadcasting and won the award for Best News or Sports Reader. Newsreader Malcolm Jordan and station voice, Daniel Wrightson, were both also recognised for services to broadcasting. 

Further accolades for NZME

The Country’s Jamie Mackay ONZM received the premier Outstanding Contribution to Radio Award.

ZM’s Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley once again took out the Best Music Breakfast Show – Network Award and Pixie Cockerill won Best New Off-Air Talent. 

The Radio Hauraki team won the Blackie Award for their Pinot Wahs catchphrase campaign that went viral, and picked up Best Sponsorship and Partnership for Dad’s Pies Hauraki Pie, amongst a range of other awards. 

Coast’s Lorna Riley won Best Music Network Host and The Hits’ Hayley Bath was awarded Best Local Music Host, Promotions Director Larissa O’Reilly won the Associated Craft Award and KidsCanBall winning Best Community Campaign. 

iHeartRadio had a strong night with Sportscafe-ish winning Best Podcast and Best Sports Podcast, Kōrero winning Best Reo Māori Podcast, Heaven’s Helpline winning Best History and Documentary Podcast and Hope is Real’s Jazz Thornton taking home Best New Talent – Presenter. 

NZME won Best Client Promotion/Activation with its cross-platform ANZ Donation Station campaign and NZME’s Auckland Agency Sales Team had a special commendation for Metropolitan Sales Team of the Year. NZME’s Ōamaru team took home Best Commercial Campaign for their Oamaru Honda Song a Long. 

Celebrating strength of radio

NZME chief executive Michael Boggs congratulated all winners across all categories and networks. 

“It’s been a great evening celebrating the strength of radio and podcasting with our fellow industry peers tonight. Kiwis love radio – whether they enjoy it through traditional broadcast or via digital platforms – our industry is thriving. 

“I’m especially proud of our NZME team – it was awesome to see so many of our talented people across multiple teams recognised this evening. A big thanks also to our valued listeners and to our advertising clients who support NZME’s radio and digital audio business – we’re hugely grateful for your ongoing loyalty,” says Boggs.