Last month saw New Zealand’s television industry come together across two evenings to celebrate the 2019 New Zealand Television Awards.
Recognising excellence in television and honouring the skills and talents of the companies and individuals who create, produce, and perform in television programmes in Aotearoa, the awards are proudly supported by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and its screen unit, Screen Auckland.
The year’s best work in the craft of television production was honoured on 6 November at the New Zealand Television Craft Awards. Hosted by Screen Auckland at GridAKL in the heart of Auckland’s innovation campus – an area rich with talent and creative ideas – the Craft Awards acknowledged the people and teams behind some of this year’s stand-out local television.
Technical prowess and creative flair are part of what makes Kiwi television practitioners sought-after in New Zealand and around the world, and there was no shortage of talent amongst Craft Awards finalists and winners, which included the country’s best editors, cinematographers, composers, post-production technicians and designers.
Jasmine Millet, Manager Creative Industries, ATEED, spoke at the Craft Awards opening and celebrated with the team behind the TVNZ comedy Fresh Eggs, which won three awards, including ‘Screen Auckland Best Art Direction or Production Design’.
On 21 November, the Huawei Mate30 Pro New Zealand Television Awards attracted a well-dressed crowd of 700 people.
Awards were presented across 26 categories acknowledging those who produce and perform in New Zealand shows. The awards reflect the changing nature of television, with entries open to programmes screened across traditional, subscription and digital broadcast platforms.
The finalists and winners included Michael Bennett, who won ‘Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama’ for the TVNZ Drama In Dark Places – the true story of Teina Pora, an innocent man imprisoned for two decades for a crime he did not commit.
Jasmine Millet says the New Zealand Television Awards are an important forum to acknowledge stellar Kiwi television talent – both in front of and behind the camera – and the meaningful contribution this makes to local industry.
“As Auckland’s regional film office, Screen Auckland sees a direct correlation between the people and skills developed on New Zealand productions and the region’s ability to host a diverse range of screen projects.
“We’re proud to have helped facilitate the Fresh Eggs and In Dark Places shoots in Auckland and support the wider industry as a sponsor of the New Zealand Television Awards to celebrate and recognise our very deserving industry stars.”