KEY POINTS:
The Aucklander has won top recognition at the NZ Community Newspapers Association's annual better newspaper awards.
Published in seven editions covering the region from the North Shore to Papakura, the newspaper has more than 400,000 readers each week.
The Aucklander, which is owned by APN - owners of the New Zealand Herald and nzherald.co.nz, also won the award for best front page. Its senior reporter Kris Hall was judged best journalist and Steven McNicholl honoured as best young photographer.
Judges said the decision was based on "core journalism competencies plus the X-factor - lots of zap and ziz."
"The Aucklander knows its market and clearly works hard in a hugely competitive environment at retaining and growing readers. The editor has space in which to display stories and photos and uses it well."
In other awards, the Whakatane Beacon was voted best newspaper in the category for papers of 7500 to 20,000 circulation.
The Opotiki News was judged best of papers with circulation up to 7500.
Mountain Scene (Queenstown) won the award for community involvement for its campaign to save Arrowtown's historic cottages.
Timaru's The Courier took the President's Award for the most improved newspaper.
2007 NZ Community Newspapers Association Award Results:
Best all-round community newspaper: The Aucklander
Best front page: The Aucklander
Best Journalist: Kristian Hall (The Aucklander)
Young Journalist: Dana Kinita (Whakatane Beacon)
Associate Newspapers: Ken Usmar (Coast & Country)
Senior Sports Journalist: Ryan Keen (Mountain Scene)
Junior Sports Journalist: John Lazo-Ron (Howick & Pakuranga Times)
Best Photographer: Wayne Martin (Howick & Pakuranga Times)
Best Young Photographer: Steven McNicholl (The Aucklander)
Headline Writing: Garry Ferris (Mountain Scene)
Best Individual Advertising Portfolio: Nor'West News (Canterbury)
Best Advertising Feature: Nor'West News
- NZ HERALD STAFF
