NZME takes top prize at NZ Radio & Podcast Awards

NZME’s Newstalk ZB has been named Network Station of the Year for the sixth year in a row at the 2026 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards.

The annual awards, a celebration of the audio industry in Aotearoa, were announced during a ceremony on June 4.

More FM Northland won Local Station of the Year meanwhile Whakatane community radio station Sun FM won Independent Station of the Year.

Newstalk ZB was recognised again in the individual awards when Heather du Plessis-Allan received the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year. Meanwhile, Radio Broadcasters Association chair Jana Rangooni was acknowledged with an Outstanding Contribution to Radio awards.

The following were also recognised for services to broadcasting:

• Eti Fuimaono McCarthy – Pacific Media Network
• Ray Smith and Angela Gordan – MediaWorks
• Clare Sziranyi and Matinee Idle – RNZ
• Pawan Prasad – Radio Tarana
• Jon Dunstan – NZME

NZME claims 22 awards 

NZME took home a total of 22 awards, including the above recognitions for Newstalk ZB. Further awards for the latter included Mike Hosking receiving Best Talk Presenter Breakfast or Drive, Best Talk Presenter Non-Breakfast or Drive for Marcus Lush, while Ethan Griffiths won Best New Talent Journalist.

Radio Hauraki’s Bec Sandys won Best New Talent Presenter and the station’s Day in Loo campaign in support of Bowel Cancer NZ claimed Best Community Campaign.

It also won Best Music Feature for its G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) countdown. The Alternative Commentary Collective (The ACC) also had two big wins taking out Best Sponsorship and Partnership for their Export Ultra partnership and Best Sports Podcast with The Agenda. 

NZME chief executive Michael Boggs says the awards ceremony celebrated what NZME does best: connecting with Kiwis through great storytelling, entertaining content and trusted journalism.

“A huge congratulations to every winner and finalist, and a sincere thank you to our listeners and advertising partners whose support makes everything we do possible,” says Boggs.

Other awards for NZME included:

• Best News or Sports Reader for Raylene Ramsay, who recently celebrated 40 years at NZME.
• Best Show Producer or Producing Team Talk Show for Kerrie Shaw, producer of The Sunday Session.
• Services to Broadcasting Award for Coast presenter Jon Dunstan.
• Best New Talent Off-Air for Flava’s Anna Shine.
• Best Music Network Team went to ZM’s Bree & Clint.
• Best Health & Wellbeing Podcast for ZM’s Sex.Life.
• Best Station Trailer for ZM’s Wrapped 2025.
• Best Local Music Breakfast Show for The Hits Dunedin Breakfast with Callum and P.
• Best Client Promotion/Activation and Best Single Market Station Promotion for The Hits Dunedin’s P’s Middle Age Mama Cheerleaders.
• Best Podcast Producer or Producing Team for The NZME Podcast Network.
• Best Commercial Campaign for the NZME Greymouth team

NZME chief audio officer Jason Winstanley adds: “I’m proud of our awesome team – these wins highlight the depth of talent we have right across our audio brands. From our Newstalk ZB newsroom to our iHeartRadio digital audio and podcast teams, our local stations to our breakfast shows, tonight is a reminder of just how many brilliant people who create content that New Zealanders continue to love.” 

18 awards for MediaWorks

MediaWorks received 18 awards, with acknowledgements for The Rock, More FM, The Edge, Humm FM and teams across content, commercial, marketing, production, and digital audio. 

More FM’s The Breakfast Club with Si & Lana won Best Music Network Breakfast Show, while More FM Rotorua’s Jack Girling won Best Local Music Host.

The Rock won Best Music Network Host for Lee Weir (aka Westie Lee) and the Blackie Award, which recognises a golden moment in radio, went to The Morning Rumble’s standout Wind of Change segment. 

The Edge‘s “Hit the Spot” segment took out Best Short Form Video for its take on Bohemian Rhapsody, while the station was recognised with the award for Best Station Imaging. 

MediaWorks also secured Best Comedy Podcast for the rova podcast Not for Radio. Meanwhile, Humm FM’s Unfiltered podcast, hosted by Ruzbeh and Sandy, was awarded Best Asian Podcast.

MediaWorks also received the following awards:

• The Associated Craft Award for the MediaWorks Integration Team.
• Best Single Commercial for Alastair Barran and Chris Hurring’s Road Safe Northland – No sense it makes ad.
• Regional/Provincial Sales Team of the Year for the Manawatu Sales Team.
• Best Content Director/Content Team for More FM’s Christian Boston, Reagan White, Amy Tempero.
• Best Show Producer or Producing Team – Music Show for The Rock Drive with Jay & Dunc.
• Best Marketing Campaign for More FM’s Back for More.
• Best Network Station Promotion for The Rock 2000.
• Ray Smith and Angela Gordan received Services to Broadcasting.

MediaWorks director of content Leon Wratt says: “Our teams consistently push the boundaries of what’s possible in audio, delivering content and campaigns that entertain, inform, and create meaningful connections with audiences.” 

Podcasts celebrated

RNZ won seven of the podcast categories for titles including The Detail, a joint production with Newsroom, Our Changing World, Search & Rescue, Suzy and Friends, The Lodge and Witi Underwater.

Between Two Beers won Best Society and Culture Podcast and Podcast of the Year, while Making Cents with Frances Cook was named Best Business & Finance Podcast. Independent Podcast of the Year went to Grey Areas with Petra Bagust and Newsroom’s Diagnosis of a Crime won Best True Crime Podcast.

RNZ’s Sam Sherwood won Best Journalist, in category of finalists made up entirely of his RNZ colleagues. Sherwood also had a leading role in the investigation of former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming, which won Best News or Sports Story – Team Coverage.

Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy for Breakfast was named Best Sports Presenter or Commentator.

The full list of winners can be found on the Radio Broadcasters Association website.