Nelson Mail scoops award

The Nelson Mail has scooped the title of Regional Newspaper of the Year and its visual journalists were finalists in three categories.

A trophy was presented to the Nelson Mail team at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards, in Auckland on Saturday. Judges Janetta Mackay, Jim Tully and Pamela Stirling said the Nelson Mail impressed with its ‘‘richly textured and inclusive reporting’’. ‘‘This is a well-edited newspaper with a strong sense of leadership on local issues – whether it be calling out local body candidates with links to conspiracy theories, providing urgent information during a flooding crisis, or smashing stereotypes of Kiwis with Chinese heritage.’’

Nelson Mail editor Warren Gamble paid tribute to the professionalism, talent and hard work of its journalists. ‘‘I would also like to thank our readers, advertisers and supporters for their help to allow us to continue providing quality journalism,’’ Gamble said.

Group regional editor Victoria Guild said the Nelson Mail’s entry covered a wide range of reporting, from floods to local body elections, and an ambitious project on New Zealand Chinese, Xin Xi Lan.

‘‘ The Mail is in the enviable position of having talented and experienced journalists who are not afraid to tackle the big stories.’’

Nelson Mail visual journalist Braden Fastier was named runnerup in the photo essay category for his coverage of the Wellington anti-mandate protests and was a finalist for Best News Photography. Fastier’s photo-story portfolio documented the chaotic end to the protest at Parliament in March last year. His news photos covered the Nelson floods and Covid testing.

Nelson Mail visual journalist Martin de Ruyter was a finalist for Best Sport Photography.

His portfolio included local cheerleaders, mini motocross riders, schoolboy rugby and disc

golf. ‘‘Both Martin and Braden are exceptional visual journalists and have consistently featured in these awards for several years,’’ Guild said.

The Stuff team bagged 23 prizes, including news app of the year. Judges said Stuff’s app delivered great hooks and headlines that attracted more than a quarter of the population daily.

Best editorial campaign went to Stuff’s The Whole Truth; Te Māramatanga, which explained public health topics prone to misinformation.

The Stuff Circuit team took out best documentary for Fire and Fury, an investigation on disinformation in New Zealand.

The Press weekend edition took out weekly newspaper of the year.

The Sunday Star-Times won best newspaper front page and Sunday was named the best newspaper magazine.

Stuff.co.nz deputy editor Janine Fenwick won editorial leader of the year. Stuff’s storytelling was recognised right across the board – Nikki Macdonald was business journalist of the year, Dana Johannsen sports journalist of the year, Caroline Williams community journalist of the year and Andrea Vance best columnist.

Other wins included Felippe Rodrigues for best data journalism, Katie Ham for best student journalist and Carla Amos for best headline.

Across feature writing – Michelle Duff won the general section for her story on a millionaire philanthropist, while Mike White took out the crime and justice category for his story on the framing of builder David Lyttle.

Christchurch-based visual journalist Chris Skelton won four categories, including photographer of the year.