Last night New Zealand’s TV stars gathered at Auckland’s Civic Theatre to celebrate the best in show at the Huawei Mate20 New Zealand Television Awards. TVNZ people and programmes won across 14 categories and MediaWorks won across five.
Among TVNZ’s wins were 1 News’s Best News Coverage; My Kitchen Rules NZ’s Stage & Screen Best Format Reality Series; The Dance Exponents – Why Does Love?’s Images & Sound Best Feature Drama, and Topp Country’s Best Lifestyle Programme.
Coast New Zealand was named NZ On Air Best Factual Series; The Casketeers took home the award for Best Original Reality Series; Waka Huia was awarded Te Māngāi Paho Best Reo Programme, and TVNZ OnDemand’s Baby Mama’s Club won NZ On Air Best Web Series.
TVNZ director of content Cate Slater says she was proud to see its local slate celebrated at the awards.
“Local content is a key part of what we do at TVNZ, and none of it would be possible without our incredible production company partners, cast and crews, as well as NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.”
Meanwhile, MediaWorks took to the stage when Jono & Ben was named Best Comedy/Comedy Entertainment Programme; Westside season three was awarded NZ On Air Best Drama Series, and Funny Girls received the Huawei Mate20 Best Script: Comedy.
Alongside the programme wins, both networks had individual awards to celebrate as well.
TVNZ’s Jehan Casinader was crowned Reporter of the Year for his work on Sunday, and Breakfast presenter Hayley Holt was named Woman’s Day Television Personality of the Year – won by public vote.
They celebrated alongside Anika Moa, who was crowned Huawei Mate20 Best Presenter: Entertainment for Anika Moa Unleashed, Felicity Morgan-Rhind, who received Best Director: Documentary/Factual, and 800 Words star Rick Donald, who was crowned Best Actor in the drama category.
Representing MediaWorks, Mike McRoberts received the Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs award for the second year in a row, while Antonia Prebble was named Huawei Mate20 Best Actress for her Westside performance, and Peter Salmon won Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama for Wanted season two.
McRoberts’ win comes 14 years into his presenting career with Newshub and about the award, he says it’s a thrill to win it again.
“I guess I’m lucky on two counts in that we’ve had such a massive news year over the past 12 months, and that I’m blessed to work with an incredible team whose passion is to bring that news to New Zealanders every day,” he says.
Wrapping up the individual wards, veteran broadcaster Tini Molyneux honoured with the Legend Award.
Maori Televison didn’t leave the night empty-handed as it won Best Live Event Coverage for ANZAC Dawn Service 2018, while Sky received the Monstavision Best Sports Programme award for No Regrets.
Coconet TV also joined the winners’ celebrations with the Best Pasifika Programme for Takes of Time.
It wasn’t just content for TV screens being celebrated, as RNZ picked up Te Māngai Pāho Best Maori Programme and NZ On Sir Best Documentary for NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka, and Stuff was awarded Best Current Affairs Programme for Stuff Circuit.
Stuff chief executive officer Sinead Boucher says The Circuit win is remarkable as it shows a shift in belief that the best investigative video has to be produced for a TV screen.
“The team’s work included innovative VR techniques and incredible direction. The Valley, in particular, is world class and they are a world-class investigative journalism team.”
