TV Awards 2002 Winners Announced

THE TV GUIDE NEW ZEALAND TELEVISION AWARDS 2002 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The Academy of Film and Television Arts of New Zealand announced the winners for the TV Guide New Zealand Television Awards 2002 at a function in Auckland tonight, hosted by comedian Mike King. (Full list of winners and finalists in earlier items in this wire).

South Pacific Picture's teen drama Being Eve, from first-time producer Vanessa Alexander, was named NZ On Air Best Drama Series, while its critically acclaimed small-town drama Mercy Peak took both Waitakere City Best Supporting Actress (Alison Bruce) and Henderson Rentals Best Supporting Actor (Tim Balme).

Hunter Production's One-off drama Staunch, based on the true story of a young south Auckland woman who defends herself in court, scooped both acting categories with Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell (Once Were Warriors) winning Auckland City Best Actress and Tamati Te Nohotu winning Auckland City Best Actor. Staunch writers Toa Fraser and Keith Hunter were given the nod for Best Script for a Drama Programme, with Keith Hunter winning Best Director, Drama and Tim Woodhouse taking the Images Post Best Editing, Drama category.

Kahukura Production's one-off whanau-drama Fish Skin Suit won Best Drama Programme and Kodak Best Camera, Drama.

PR parody Spin Doctors was named Best Comedy Programme while Willy Nilly, now working on a second series, took out Best Comedy Script, Best Entertainment/Comedy Performance (Sean Duffy) and Best Director, Comedy (Mike Smith).

The story of New Zealand historical watersiders' strike, 1951, won Best Documentary and its director, John Bates also was named Best Director, Documentary.

Russell McVeagh Best Maori Programme went to Whanau and Te Mangai Paho Best Maori Language Programme was awarded to He Tohunga Whakairo.

A close public vote saw One Network News anchor Judy Bailey, beat TV3's contender John Campbell and Breakfast's Mike Hosking for The TV Guide Best Presenter. Mitre 10 DIY Rescue was voted Best New Programme by TV Guide readers, ahead of travel.co.nz and Mercy Peak.

This year the awards cover programmes screened within an 18 month window - from July 1st 2000 to December 31, 2001, due to no awards being held in 2001.

Over 130 finalists across 37 categories were selected from over 400 entries by a judging panel of expert industry professionals.

The Academy gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors: TV Guide, Images Post Ltd, TVNZ, TV3, NZ On Air, Auckland City, Sony, Russell McVeagh, Te Mangai Paho, NZ House & Garden, Pacific Renaissance Pictures, New Zealand Television Archive, The Edge, Kodak, Waitakere City Council and Henderson Rentals.

ENDS

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