NZ Television Awards reveals 2023 finalists 

AUCKLAND, Today: The New Zealand Television Awards have announced the finalists for 2023, with a total of 115 nominations from more than 490 entries across 37 categories.

This year’s nominees represent content aired across local free-to-air networks TVNZ 1 & 2, Three, Sky Open (formerly known as Prime) and Whakaata Māori, as well as New Zealand-made programming on pay TV, digital and streaming platforms including Sky, TVNZ+, ThreeNow, Newsroom, The Spinoff, Stuff, RNZ and The Coconet.

The 2023 New Zealand Television Awards finalists are …

NZ On Air Best Drama

• The Brokenwood Mysteries
• South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Inky Pinky Ponky
• Tikilounge Productions / Whakaata Māori / The Coconet
• The Gone
• Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Comedy

• 7 Days: Season 15 Episode 18
• Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three
• Not Even: Season 1 Episode 4
• Miss Conception Films / Sky Open
• Homebound 3.0: Season 1 Episode 1
• Kevin & Co / Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three
• Educators: Season 3 Episode 1
• South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2

Best Factual Series

• Slash/Tairāwhiti – TVNZ / 1News
• When Bob Came: Season 1, Stella Maris Production / Caravan Carpark Films / TVNZ+
• Homesteads: Season 1
• Te Imurangi Ltd / Whakaata Māori

NZ On Air Best Documentary

• Inside Child Poverty Revisited, Red Sky Film & Television Ltd / ThreeNow and Three
• Fire and Fury, Stuff Circuit / Stuff 
• No Māori Allowed, Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Original Reality Series

• Unbreakable: Season 2 Episode 1, Storymaker Ltd /  TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Heartbreak Island: Season 3 Episode 12, Imagination Television Ltd / ThreeNow and Three
• The Walkers: Season 2 Episode 3, Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best Format Reality Series

• Match Fit – League Legends, Pango Productions / ThreeNow and Three 
• The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• The Dog House NZ –South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best Current Affairs Programme

• Paddy Gower Has Issues, Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / Newshub/ ThreeNow and Three
• Newsroom Investigates, Newsroom
• Sunday – TVNZ / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Te Ao with Moana, Whakaata Māori

NZ On Air Best Children’s Programme

• Kiri and Lou, Kiri and Lou Ltd / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Mystic, Libertine Pictures & Slim Film + TV / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Panda and Kiwi, CCTV Animation Group & NHNZ Worldwide Ltd / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2

Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme

• Te Ao with Moana, Whakataa Māori 
• The Hui, Great Southern Television / ThreeNow and Three 
• NZ Wars, Stories of Wairau – Aotearoa Media Collective & Great Southern Television / RNZ
• Homesteads – TVNZ / 1News, Te Imurangi Ltd / Whakaata Māori

Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme

• Rage Against The Rangatahi MMXXII – TVNZ / 1News, Te Noni Ltd / Whakaata Māori 
• Something For The People, Arataua Media / Whakaata Māori Facebook & On Demand
• Homesteads, Te Imurangi Ltd / Whakaata Māori

NZ On Air Best Pasifika Programme

• Inky Pinky Ponky: Season 1 – Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet / Whakaata Māori
• Brutal Lives – Mo’ui Faingata’a: Season 2 – Kingston Production Ltd / The Coconet
• Duckrockers – South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best News Coverage

• 1News – Auckland Flooding – TVNZ / 1News, TVNZ 1
• 1News – Cyclone Gabrielle – TVNZ / 1News, TVNZ 1
• Newshub – Cyclone Gabrielle hits the East Coast
• Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / Newshub / ThreeNow and Three

Best Sports Programme

• The Crowd Goes Wild – Sky Sport
• Scratched : Aotearoa’s Lost Sporting Legends – Hex Work Productions / The Spinoff
• East Coast Rising, Pango Productions / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best Live Event Coverage

• Super Rugby Final 2023 – Sky Sport
• ANZAC 2023 – Whakaata Māori 
• Te Matatini Herenga Waka, Herenga Tangata – Final Day – Pango Productions / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2

Best Entertainment Programme

• Ka Pō, Ka Ao Rob Ruha with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra – Satellite / Whakaata Māori
• Taskmaster NZ – Kevin & Co / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee
• Kevin & Co / Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three

Best Director: Documentary/Factual

• Corinna Hunziker – No Māori Allowed, Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Toby Longbottom, 
• Fire and Fury – Stuff Circuit / Stuff 
• Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne
• Homesteads
• Te Imurangi ltd / Whakaata Māori

Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama / Comedy Drama

• Jesse Griffin – Educators, South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2
• Roberto Nascimento, Sui Generis, Rebels & Robots Production / OUTtv
• Kiel McNaughton, Princess of Chaos, Chaos Films Ltd,  Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd & Augusto Ltd / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best Actress

• Antonia Prebble – Double Parked, Kevin & Co /  Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three
• Madeleine Sami – Double Parked, Kevin & Co /  Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three 
• Amanaki Prescott-Faletau, Inky Pinky Ponky, Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet / Whakaata Māori

Best Supporting Actress 

• Katlyn Wong – Princess of Chaos, Chaos Films Ltd,  Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd & Augusto Ltd / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Sesilia Pusiaki, Inky Pinky Ponky, Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet / Whakaata Māori, 
• Michelle Fairley
• The Gone – Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Actor

• Dominic Ona-Ariki – One Lane Bridge, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Richard Flood – The Gone, Kingfisher Films/ Keeper Pictures/ Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Neill Rea, The Brokenwood Mysteries, South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Supporting Actor

• Rick Donald – Educators, South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2
• Scotty Cotter – Kura, Plus6Four Entertainment / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2
• Scotty Cotter – TVNZ / 1News
• Not Even, Miss Conception Films / Sky Open

Reporter of the Year 

• Mark Crysell, Sunday, TVNZ / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Lisette Reymer, Newshub Live at 6 – Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / Newshub/ ThreeNow and Three
• Thomas Mead – 1 News, TVNZ / 1 News, TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Presenter: Entertainment

• Sonia Gray – Kids Wired Differently, Ruckus / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Karen O’Leary – Paddy Gower Has Issues, Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ /ThreeNow and Three
• Alice Snedden’s Bad News, Hex Work Productions / The Spinoff 

Best Presenter: News And Current Affairs

• Jack Tame, Q+A with Jack Tame – TVNZ / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Jenny May-Clarkson – Breakfast, TVNZ / 1News/ TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Patrick Gower – Newshub Live at 6pm, Paddy Gower Has Issues, AM, The Project NZ, Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / Newshub / ThreeNow and Three

Best Editing: Documentary or Factual

• Cushla Dillon – No Māori Allowed, Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Toby Longbottom – Fire and Fury, Stuff Circuit
• Emma Patterson – Kids Wired Differently, Ruckus / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Editing: Drama / Comedy Drama

• Jonno Woodford-Robinson, One Lane Bridge, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Rhys Green & Lachlan Wilson & Ben Winter – Double Parked, Kevin & Co / Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three
• Carly Turner – Princess of Chaos, Chaos Films Ltd, Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd, Augusto Ltd / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best Camerawork: Documentary or Factual

• Dominic Fryer, No Māori Allowed, Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Phil Johnson, Fire and Fury, Stuff Circuit 
• Kina Scollay & Alex Hubert Our Big Blue Backyard – Snares Island, NHNZ Worldwide Ltd / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Director: Multi Camera

• Matt Quin – Warriors Returning Home 2022, Sky Sport
• Steve Jamieson, Rugby World Cup 2023 Final, World Rugby / HBS / ThreeNow, Three & Spark
• Mitchell Hawkes, Topp Class, Diva Productions / Sky Open

Images & Sound Best Cinematography: Drama / Comedy Drama

• Andrew Stroud, One Lane Bridge: Season 3, Episode 5, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Dave Cameron NZCS ACS, The Gone: Season 1, Episode 2, Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Tim Fleming ISC, The Gone: Season 1, Episode 5, Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Contribution to a Soundtrack

• Tom Miskin, Melanie Graham, Mike Bayliss, Steve Finnigan – Mystic: Season 3, Episode 8
• Libertine Pictures & Slim Film + TV / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Tom Miskin, Mike Bayliss, Alan Kidd, Steve Finnigan – One Lane Bridge: Season 3, Episode 1 – Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Ben Sinclair, Buster Flaws, Travis Heffernen, Steve Finnigan, Joel Haines – The Brokenwood Mysteries: Season 8, Episode 2, South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Images & Sound Best Original Score

• Riki Gooch – The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana, Sweetshop & Green / Whakaata Māori  
• Claire Cowan – One Lane Bridge: Series 3, Episode 5 – Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Claire Cowan – Under the Vines: Season 2, Libertine Pictures & Perpetual Entertainment / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – The Gone: Season 1, Episode 4, 
• Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Post Production Design

• Mikee Carpinter – Patrick Gower on Cyber Crime, Ruckus Media /  ThreeNow and Three
• Alana Cotton – One Lane Bridge: Season 3, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Alana Cotton – Princess of Chaos, Chaos Films Ltd,  Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd & Augusto Ltd / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Best Production Design

• Shayne Radford, The Gone – Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• John Allan – One Lane Bridge, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Ken Turner – Under The Vines, Libertine Pictures & Perpetual Entertainment / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Costume Design

• Tania Klouwens – Duckrockers, South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Pauline H Pohatu – The Gone
• Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Feeonaa Clifton & Ani O’Neill – The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana, Sweetshop & Green / Whakaata Māori  

Best Makeup Design

• Catherine Maguire – Under The Vines, Libertine Pictures & Perpetual Entertainment / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Kelly Mitchell – One Lane Bridge, Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
• Kelly Mitchell – The Gone,Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Script: Comedy

• Vince McMillan & James Watson
• Kura: Season 3, Episode 3 – Plus6Four Entertainment / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2
• Dana Leaming – Not Even: Season 1, Episode 4, Miss Conception Films / Sky Open
• Chris Parker – Double Parked: Season 1, Episode 2, Kevin & Co / Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three

Best Script: Drama

• Ally Xue & Fiona Samuel – Princess of Chaos, Chaos Films Ltd,  Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd & Augusto Ltd / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Jessica Joy Wood – Shortland Street: Season 32, South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
• Amanaki Prescott-Faletau & Leki Jackson-Bourke – Inky Pinky Ponky, Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet / Whakaata Māori

About the New Zealand Television Awards
The awards aim to recognise excellence in television, and honour the special skills and unique talents of the companies and individuals who create, produce, and perform in television programmes in New Zealand. The Awards are open to traditional, subscription and digital broadcast platforms. The New Zealand Television Awards are owned and produced by janda.

• nztvawards.co.nz
• janda.co.nz