Voyager Media Awards 2021: Photos and Recap

Wow - what a night! The 2021 Voyager Media Awards were full of glitz, glam, and celebrations galore, as the biggest talents in New Zealand journalism gathered to recognise all the hard work and achievements of the NZ media from 2020.

Hosted by the sparkling Toni Street, the event had the Auckland Town Hall lit up in Voyager blue for the night. Pre-ceremony, the excitement was palpable, as guests and finalists decked out in their finest mixed and mingled.

Before the awards ceremony began, bubbles were flowing and trays of canapes floated through the crowd in the Voyager Lounge, along with excited chatter and plenty of photo ops.

Along with the Voyager Executive team and NPA Board of Directors, New Zealand’s media talent and other esteemed guests - including the Honourable Kris Faafoi, Honourable Judith Collins, and Siouxsie Wiles - were in attendance.

Voyager Managing Director/Founder Seeby Woodhouse says the company is proud to support the event for so many years running:

“I think it’s a fabulous thing for us to be involved in. All the media really appreciate our sponsorship as it’s been a tough few years for traditional media, with social media taking everyone’s attention. This year’s event was a great night, if not a little rowdy!”

You can view more photos from the evening here.

Winners Roundup

Huge congratulations to all 66 winners from the nine categories, including digital, feature writing, general, magazines, newspapers, photography, reporting, video and scholarships.

Voyager would like to give special recognition to the winners of the Voyager-sponsored categories. Each of these three categories were packed full of amazing, deserving finalists - and we did not envy the judges’ difficult job!

Voyager News Website of the Year

WINNER: nzherald.co.nz/NZME

What the judges said:

“A unanimous decision by all three judges made the NZ Herald a clear winner. All the finalists were compelling in their own right, showing significant strategic development and improved journalistic delivery over the prior year. This bodes well for the future.”

Voyager Newspaper of the Year

WINNER: The Weekend Press/Stuff

What the judges said:

‘’The Weekend Press is the Newspaper of the Year not for the stories that happen in its patch, but for how it explores them. Stories written, illustrated and presented with carefully crafted authority, urgency and flair are developed with explainers and analysis and, crucially, with the views and faces of the people – readers – who are most affected. It’s not a newspaper of talking heads and heady politics; The Weekend Press is a cleverly designed and truly South Island newspaper whose impact and interest has at its foundations the carefully told stories of the people who live there.“

Voyager Reporter of the Year

WINNER: Alison Mau | Stuff

What the judges said:

“Two entries stood out for their contribution to New Zealand’s social improvement in 2020. Carmen Parahi’s work leads a ground-breaking effort by Stuff to look at news with a Maori perspective and Alison Mau is leading the exposure of sexual harassment. Alison Mau’s revelations concerning two well-known figures in New Zealand’s academic life were fearless, determined pursuits that deserve the highest commendation.”

All 66 winners from the event can be found here. The Voyager team is already looking forward to next year!