NZME celebrates success with big wins at 2026 NZ Media Awards

New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) is celebrating an excellent performance at the 2026 NZ Media Awards, claiming multiple top honours including the prestigious Newspaper of the Year, Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year, Regional Newspaper of the Year and Editorial Leader of the Year.

The annual NZ Media Awards celebrate the best of New Zealand's news media across all platforms, recognising the outstanding work done in newsrooms across the country, including that of journalists, columnists, cartoonists and photojournalists.

The Rotorua Daily Post claimed the Newspaper of the Year and Regional Newspaper of the Year titles, with judges praising it as a shining example of a paper using limited resources for fine results in difficult times. Judges noted its enormous reach and engagement in the community and said its news writing “doesn't just speak to the issues affecting the community, it sings”.

The NZ Herald claimed Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year. Judges noted that the Herald delivered difficult journalism that matters including probing investigations, in-depth business and finance sections and complex data journalism. The Herald's premium print experience also received praise, recognised as the only outlet to excel across both of the biggest stories of 2025: the death of Tom Phillips and the Jevon McSkimming police scandal.

Sarah Bristow was named Editorial Leader of the Year, recognising her ability to launch and deliver NZME’s weekday live news show, Herald NOW. Judges commented on her contribution in delivering a far-reaching and impactful piece of work requiring a major cultural shift, new ways of working, new technology, new skills, and an ambitious editorial and commercial strategy. The Herald NOW Video News Innovation team was also recognised as runner-up in Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling.

In other individual categories, Jared Savage won Best Investigation for his reporting of the Jevon McSkimming scandal, Matt Nippert took home Business Journalist of the Year, Eva de Jong won Best Up and Coming Feature Writer and Benjamin Plummer was named Sports Journalist of the Year.

Murray Kirkness, NZME editor-in-chief, says: “Tonight is a proud night for NZME. For the Rotorua Daily Post to take out two major awards, the Herald to win Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year, for Sarah to win Editorial Leader and to see our individual journalists recognised across several categories - that's a real statement. I’m proud of the quality journalism we produce across our platforms and tonight is a special celebration of that, alongside our industry peers.”

Matt Wilson, NZME Chief Publishing Officer, says: “Creating award-winning newspapers is a team effort that spans our newsrooms right through to our printing, customer service and delivery networks nationwide. It was fantastic to hear the judges’ comments on the premium print experience of the NZ Herald - I’m proud of what our teams produce and deliver day in, day out.”

Michael Boggs, NZME CEO says: "We're living in a time when there's more content available than ever before, and our own research shows people are working harder than ever to figure out fact from disinformation. The NZ Herald and NZME’s other news platforms have an important role to play as the place Kiwis turn to when they need news worth knowing. We're committed to being a trusted source, backed by a business that continually innovates without compromising on quality journalism, and it’s great to have that recognised with our award wins tonight. Congrats to all other finalists and winners - tonight was another wonderful celebration of the talent across our industry."

ENDS