NZ Radio Awards: Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, Leighton Smith recognised

Author: NZME. News,
Publish Date: Fri, 22 May 2015, 12:09PM

Some of the country's best-known voices have been recognised at the 2015 NZ Radio Awards tonight.

The awards celebrate the best of New Zealand radio, honouring personalities, programming, news and sports reporting, production and creativity within the industry.

Held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the glamorous event saw the likes of Hilary Barry, Mike Hosking, Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce receive gongs.

Barry took home the award for best newsreader while Hosking was recognised as the best talk presenter, and his show Mike Hosking Breakfast also received the award for best producer, Emily Winstanley.

Hosking also received the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year title.

The Edge radio station was also a notable achiever - winning Station of the Year as well as awards for creative, entertaining content and advertising campaigns.

Pryor and Boyce, known collectively as Jono and Ben, received gongs for best video and best music non-breakfast team.

Managing Director of NZME. Radio, Dean Buchanan said: "The awards NZME received are the result of hard work and indicate we are definitely on the right track with our strategy.

"Radio is the fastest changing medium, making it dynamic, fun, exciting, challenging and multi-faceted - in fact we're not just in the radio business, where on the business of engaging listeners, consumers and clients through multiple platforms and devices.

"This gives us great flexibility to continue to grow our content and commercial offerings."

MediaWorks Radio chief executive Wendy Palmer said: "I'm unbelievably proud of all our winners and finalists. We're just so fortunate to have such great talent.

"It's their work that underpins the record breaking commercial success of the past year, and it's so great to see them recognized by the industry."

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The Big Winners

*Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year - Mike Hosking, Newstalk ZB

*Best Newsreader - Hilary Barry, RadioLIVE

*Best Talk Presenter - Mike Hosking, The Mike Hosking Breakfast, Newstalk ZB

*Best Talkback Presenter - Leighton Smith, The Leighton Smith Show, Newstalk ZB

*Best Sports Presenter/Commentator - Tony Veitch, Newstalk ZB

*Station of the Year - The Edge, MediaWorks

*Best Radio Website - www.therock.net.nz, MediaWorks

*Best Show Producer - Emily Winstanley, The Mike Hosking Breakfast, Newstalk ZB

*Best New Broadcaster – On Air - Luke Howden, Hokonui Southland and South Otago