Media Releases

Voyager Media Awards Recognise RNZ Journalism

Released at 6:08 pm on 22 May 2020

RNZ excellence in journalism has been recognised at the prestigious Voyager Media Awards announced this evening. The annual awards celebrate the very best in print, digital and broadcast journalism on all media platforms across New Zealand.
 
RNZ journalists have won an unprecedented seven Voyager awards and have received judging commendations as runners-up in two categories.
 
Guyon Espiner won the coveted Reporter of the Year Award, with judges noting that he broke one of the biggest political stories of the year and demonstrated a strong commitment to reporting issues of public importance. Espiner’s Voyager award follows his recognition last week as Best News Journalist at the New Zealand Radio Awards.  
 
RNZ podcasts have dominated in Voyager digital categories winning two awards. The RNZ / Stuff production, White Silence, has won Best Narrative Podcast – also backing up from a double success at last week’s New Zealand Radio Awards, and the Voyager joint award for Best Episodic Podcast is He Kakano Ahau, a podcast commissioned by RNZ, produced by Ursula Grace Productions and made possible by the RNZ/NZ On Air Innovation fund.
 
Aaron Smale (Ngāti Porou), is the Voyager Feature Writer of the Year for his longform, hard hitting, journalism addressing the impact of inequality on Māori. Judges said his work is deeply moving and beautifully written.  
 
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tuhourangi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) receives the Te Tohu Kairangi trophy for Best Reporting – Māori Affairs. She was the inaugural recipient of the Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Internship established in 2017 by Radio New Zealand to support Te reo Māori and foster Māori journalism.
 
RNZ’s Logan Church won Best Junior Reporter for his insightful and compelling live radio cross in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack, with judges saying he displayed skills beyond his years.  

In video journalism, Luke McPake was recognised as Best Feature or Current Affairs Video Journalist for Death Bed: The Story of Kelly Savage, which was described as captivating, powerful and creative storytelling.  
 
Judging commendations as runners-up have been received by Phil Pennington in the individual Reporter of the Year category and the RNZ team for its investigation of the eviction of Tamaki state house tenants.  
 
RNZ CEO Paul Thompson congratulated all RNZ winners and finalists.  

“These awards showcase excellence in New Zealand news and current affairs and I am proud to see our staff recognised as finalists and winners for their brilliant work - among such outstanding contenders.  RNZ is committed to high quality, independent, and credible journalism and we value the opportunity to celebrate the industry with colleagues who represent the very best in New Zealand”
 
RNZ Voyager Media Award Winners for 2020:
 
Reporting 
Guyon Espiner – Reporter of the Year
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui - Best Reporting – Māori Affairs
Logan Church – Best Reporter - Junior
 
Feature Writing 
Aaron Smale, Feature Writer of the Year – Long Form  
 
Video Journalism and Broadcasting
Luke McPake, Best Feature of Current Affairs Video – Single Journalist
 
Digital 
White Silence (RNZ/Stuff), Best Narrative Podcast
He Kakano Ahau (RNZ/Ursula Grace Films) Best Episodic Podcast
 
RNZ Runners-up are: 
Phil Pennington – Runner-up Reporter of the Year
RNZ- Runner-up Best Team Investigation
 
A full list of the 2020 Voyager Media Awards can be found here: 
https://voyagermediaawards.nz/winners2020