NZ scoops Pacific newspaper awards

New Zealand newspapers won eight awards at this year's Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association Awards (PANPA).

The awards, held in Sydney last week, attracted 369 entries from newspapers in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan.

New Zealand newspapers won seven awards for their individual circulation sizes.

They included the Timaru Herald who took out two awards for display and The New Zealand Herald, two awards for classified advertising and young readers.

The Nelson Mail won an award for branding; Otago Daily Times for young readers; and Bay of Plenty Times for events.

In addition The Dominion Post's John Selkirk won lifestyle photograph of the year.

There were also several highly commended mentions given to New Zealand newspapers: Bay of Plenty Times for daily newspaper of year; The Herald on Sunday for Sunday newspaper of year; Nelson Mail for circulation and display advertising; the Dominion Post for display advertising; The Sunday Star-Times for events; Hawke's Bay Today for news photograph of year; and Otago Daily Times for Innovation in the pre-production process or technology.

"The results show New Zealand newspapers are cutting it with the best across editorial, advertising, marketing and production," Newspaper Publishers' Association chief executive Tim Pankhurst said.

"This excellence explains why readerships and circulations are holding up, and in some cases increasing, despite the economic downturn."

- NZPA