Media Releases

RNZ Scoops Five New York Festival Awards

Released at 2:26 pm on 22 June 2016

Radio New Zealand has won five awards for excellence competing against the best in the world at the prestigious New York Festival Radio Awards announced in New York on Tuesday.

The quality of RNZ work has been recognised for the third year in a row by international judges who noted that, with entries from well over 30 countries, this year’s awards represented exceptionally strong competition.

The New York Festival Radio Awards recognise the very best in the world of radio,celebrating programming of the highest quality that is at the forefront of innovation and competition. Categories are designed to reflect the emerging trends within the industry,covering all creative facets of the radio broadcasting industry.

Koroi Hawkins received a silver award for his coverage of Cyclone Pam which struck Vanuatu in 2015 and Sonia Sly was also awarded silver for Glory in their Eyes, her documentary which used archival interviews to trace the experience of New Zealand troops in Gallipoli.

Both Kim Hill and Kathryn Ryan were awarded bronze for on-air presentation and Graham Kennedy’s recording of Trinity Roots at WOMAD in 2015 also received a bronze award for Best Live Sound.

RNZ programmes selected as finalists were MediaWatch, This Way Up and David Houston’s production of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s work Sea to Sky for RNZ Concert.

RNZ had an unprecedented nine finalists in this celebrated international competition.

RNZ Award Winners
Silver Award                        Koroi Hawkins /RNZI / RNZ                       Cyclone Pam Coverage
Silver Award                        Sonia Sly                                                Glory in Their Eyes

Bronze Award                       Kim Hill                                                  Radio Personality
Bronze Award                       Kathryn Ryan                                         On-Air Talent
Bronze Award                       Graham Kennedy                                    WOMAD – Trinity Roots

RNZ Finalists
David Houston                         Christchurch Symphony Orchestra            Sea to Sky
Simon Morton / Richard Scott   This Way Up                                          Fear of Flying
Simon Morton / Richard Scott   This Way Up                                          Menopause
Colin Peacock / Jeremy Rose   Mediawatch

Links to Winning Programmes
Glory in Their Eyes

WOMAD – Trinity Roots

ENDS