Rural Lifestyle TV Show Wins by a Country Mile
Country Calendar has been voted by New Zealanders as the Best Lifestyle Show on television with almost double the votes
of the second placed lifestyle show (Mucking In) in the TV Guide Best On The Box Awards.
Now in its 40th year of production, Country Calendar is New Zealand’s longest running local television show.
In other results TV3 scooped Best News, Best Presenter Current Affairs, Best Presenter Weather and Best Sports Show with
TV One’s Simon Dallow taking out the coveted Best News Presenter Award.
TV Guide Editor Julie Eley describes the final results as interesting, but inconclusive for both TV One and TV3 News.
“Simon Dallow and Bernadine Oliver-Kerby on TV One were the most popular news presenters while TV3 was voted best news,
so I think that is something that both channels can take comfort in – while realising that neither of them have it 100%
right.
“But that’s the beauty of TV Guide’s Best On the Box Awards. It gives the public a chance to say exactly what they think
about what is going on in television. We provide a forum for our readers to get their views across, and when you
consider that more than 10,000 people voted, they are views which shouldn’t be ignored.”
First time winner in Best On The Box was Maori TV which picked up the Best Documentary trophy for its ANZAC Day Special
Broadcast co-presented by Judy Bailey and Wena Harawira.
“Given the importance of Anzac Day to our national identity, this type of broadcast was long overdue and it was
fantastic to see Maori TV recognise this and take the initiative. It was innovative television and the award is
well-deserved.
“Scoring Judy Bailey as co-presenter with Wena Harawira was a major coup and I’m probably not alone in hoping they
return next year,” says Julie.
This year's awards included 24 categories, 144 nominees and an amazing 240,000 votes made by 10,000 people.
TV Guide is New Zealand’s top selling weekly magazine, featuring TV listings ahead of any other publication. For the
full results, check out the issue on sale Thursday November 9.
ENDS