Herald judged top newspaper in Pacific

Herald investigations editor, Jared Savage. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Herald was early today named the best newspaper in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific at a ceremony in Sydney.

Managing editor Shayne Currie, who was at the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (Panpa) awards, tweeted: "Oh boy. @nzherald what an amazing team."

Earlier in the night, the Herald's investigations editor, Jared Savage, won Panpa's prestigious Hegarty Scholarship. The $A10,000 prize is used to finance an overseas study tour of any aspect of newspaper or digital operations.

"I'm thrilled for Jared," Currie said. "He's one of our brightest young talents and it's great to see him get international recognition."

Also last night, Stephen Parker, of the Herald's sister paper the Daily Post in Rotorua, won the award for the top sports photograph from a regional newspaper.

NZME Creative Services Art Director Justine Black. Photo / Sarah Ivey

On Thursday night, Justine Black, creative services art director of the

Herald

's parent company, NZME, was named the designer/creative services professional of the year.