NZME Celebrates Huge Haul At 2022 NZ Radio Awards

Newstalk ZB takes Network Station of the Year, Hosking wins Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year for the third time, ZM takes Best Network Team Show and Blackie Award

New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) is tonight celebrating one of its biggest wins at the NZ Radio Awards, taking out six of the seven awards in the premier category and winning the majority of the overall awards’ pool.

The 2022 NZ Radio Awards were held this evening and delivered via a live webcast, with teams across the country tuning in for the radio industry’s much-anticipated annual event.

Chief Radio Officer, Jason Winstanley, says he couldn’t be prouder of the award results. “Our teams are incredibly hard working – so much goes on behind the scenes to present the world class news content and entertainment that our radio hosts and teams broadcast across Aotearoa each and every day. To be recognised like this, with such huge success in tonight’s awards is so exciting, and truly humbling,” he says.

The nation’s top-rating commercial radio network, Newstalk ZB, was once again a standout performer, taking out eleven awards in total, including four premier awards: Station of the Year (Network Metropolitan), Mike Hosking winning the prestigious Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year Award for the third time, Heather du-Plessis Allan – Best Breakfast or Drive Talk Presenter, Marcus Lush – Best non-Breakfast or Drive Talk Presenter.

Mike Hosking, who celebrated 40 years in radio broadcasting this year accepted his award saying: “Thank you to everyone who makes the Mike Hosking Breakfast what it is. What I’ve enjoyed in this very difficult time for our country is how wonderfully well the radio industry is doing. I put it down to the magic and simplicity of radio –the ability to turn the radio on wherever you are and hear an opinion, an idea, some information, some entertainment – that’s what makes our industry so wonderful,” he says.

The ever-popular ZM network also celebrated seven awards in total, including Fletch, Vaughan and Megan taking out the hugely competitive Best Network Team Show – the fifth year in a row the breakfast show has won such an award. ZM also won the esteemed Blackie Award for host Hayley Sproull’s hilarious Driver’s Licence segment.

Radio Hauraki and The Hits both won two awards each, with Hauraki’s Matt and Jerry Podcast winning Best Podcast by a Radio Show, and The Hits winning Best Client Promotion/Activation for Jono & Ben’s Battery Operated Torch Tour with The Warehouse. Gold AM – now Gold Sport – also took out an award for its coverage of the ICC World Test Championship.

NZME Chief Content Officer, Mike McClung, says the performance of the music radio networks in the awards this year was brilliant.

“The latest GfK Commercial Radio Audience Survey showed that Kiwis love ZM, with the station having the most listeners across several highly competitive commercial demographics, and it continues to absolutely own the breakfast music radio spot. It’s also great to see our Hauraki and The Hits teams recognised this evening,” says McClung.

In a very special individual award, NZME’s much-loved receptionist, Iona McHenry, was recognised with a Services to Broadcasting Award. Iona first slipped her feet under the desk at Radio New Zealand in 1986 and since then has enjoyed a long, impressive career within the radio industry, and her voice and smile are synonymous with NZME.

On a commercial note, NZME’s local Taranaki team was also celebrating a big win this evening as Sales Team of the Year.

NZME CEO Michael Boggs says he is thrilled with the big wins across NZME.

“I’m so proud of our NZME whānau for their impressive award haul tonight – it was great to hear from so many winners this evening and for the radio industry to come together, albeit virtually, to celebrate the talented people within our industry. Kiwis nationwide love to listen to radio, and despite the challenges we’ve all faced over the past few years as an industry, having the chance to celebrate tonight was fantastic.

“A huge thanks to our customers and clients, and also to the Kiwis who tune in every day – whether that be to hear their favourite music, be kept in the know on local and global events, or to hear the latest opinion of their favourite talk show host – we truly value your ongoing support,” says Boggs.

Source: GfK Commercial RAM, S2/22, Total NZ, Cume, AP10+, M-S 12mn-12mn (unless otherwise stated)

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