Award for Herald on Sunday crime writer

Crime writer Amy Maas. Photo / Doug Sherring

Herald on Sunday chief reporter Amy Maas was crowned the country's best crime and justice newspaper feature writer at the 2015 Canon Media Awards on Friday night.

Her portfolio included features on how Crown prosecutors were adopting American-style plea bargains, the inner workings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the sibling rivalry over the late Hugh Green's $400 million fortune.

Maas "explored a range of crime and justice issues with a focus on thorough information-gathering that ensured her stories conveyed an authoritative grasp of the topics investigated", Canon judges said.

Former Herald on Sunday chief reporter Bevan Hurley won the best general reporter category. The Herald on Sunday was also a finalist in best weekly paper and design.

Judges described the Herald on Sunday as a newspaper "that sees itself as starting the news week, not ending it".

Judges in the best design category said: "The Herald on Sunday continues to pack a punch with its design."

The New Zealand Herald's haul included best overall newspaper, best website, Jared Savage won best newspaper reporter and Brett Phibbs won best photographer. Editor Shayne Currie also won the Wolfson Fellowship to Cambridge University.

The Sunday Star-Times was judged best weekly newspaper.