NZ Radio Awards: Mike Hosking, Leighton Smith, Hilary Barry among those recognised

Reporter·NZ Herald·

21 May, 2015 09:25 AM3 mins to read

Prime Minister John Key appearing at the NewstalkZB leaders' breakfast show with broadcaster Mike Hosking (left). Photo / Jason Oxenham

Some of New Zealand's best-known voices were celebrated last night.

The 2015 NZ Radio Awards celebrate the best of Kiwi radio, honouring personalities, programming, news and sports reporting, production and creativity in the industry.

Held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the glamorous event saw the likes of Hilary Barry, Mike Hosking, Leighton Smith, Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce receive gongs.

Barry won best newsreader while Hosking was recognised as the best talk presenter, and his show Mike Hosking Breakfast also got the award for best producer, Emily Winstanley.

Hosking also received the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year title.

The Edge radio station was a notable achiever, winning Station of the Year and awards for creative, entertaining content and ad campaigns.

Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith was awarded best talkback presenter and honoured for his outstanding contribution to radio.

Pryor and Boyce, known together as Jono and Ben, got gongs for best video and best music non-breakfast team.

NZME. Radio managing director Dean Buchanan said: "The awards NZME have received are the result of hard work and indicate we are definitely on the right track with our strategy.

"Radio is the fastest changing medium, making it dynamic, fun, exciting, challenging and multi-faceted - in fact, we're not just in the radio business, we're in the business of engaging listeners, consumers and clients through multiple platforms and devices. This gives us great flexibility."

MediaWorks Radio chief executive Wendy Palmer said: "I'm unbelievably proud of all our winners and finalists. We're just so fortunate to have such great talent."