The 2026 NZ Radio and Podcast Awards have recognised some of the strongest voices, producers, stations, podcasts and creative teams across New Zealand’s audio industry.
Held on 4 June 2026, the awards celebrated excellence across radio broadcasting, podcasting, journalism, production, te reo Māori broadcasting, multicultural programming, community campaigns, station promotions, commercial creativity and lifetime contribution to the industry.
For Webfit News, this is a moment to acknowledge not only the headline winners, but every category winner whose work helps keep New Zealand’s radio and podcast sector strong, diverse and connected to communities.
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A strong year for New Zealand audio
The awards reflected the wide reach of New Zealand’s audio landscape, from national broadcasters and major commercial stations to regional teams, independent creators, ethnic broadcasters, access radio, podcast producers and community-focused programmes.
Newstalk ZB was named Network Station of the Year, while More FM Northland won Local Station of the Year and Sun FM was recognised as Independent Station of the Year.
Heather du Plessis-Allan received the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year honour, one of the most prominent individual awards in New Zealand radio.
In podcasting, Between Two Beers Podcast had a standout year, winning Podcast of the Year and Best Society and Culture Podcast.
Celebrating multicultural and community voices
One of the important parts of this year’s awards was the recognition of multicultural and community broadcasting.
Rahul Chopra’s Real Talk with Rahul on Radio Tarana won Best Asian Language Programme, a proud moment for Asian and South Asian broadcasting in New Zealand.
Unfiltered with Sandy and Ruzbeh from Humm FM won Best Asian Podcast, further highlighting the strength of Asian voices in New Zealand’s growing podcast space.
PMN Fiji was recognised with Best Pacific Language Programme, while WTH Are Māori Wards? from Access Radio Taranaki won Best Access Radio Programme.
These wins show the important role community and language-based media play in New Zealand. They help audiences stay connected to culture, identity, information and public conversation.
Podcast winners
The podcast categories showed the depth of independent and broadcaster-backed storytelling in New Zealand.
Best Independent Podcast went to Grey Areas with Petra Bagust by Love It Media.
Best Society and Culture Podcast went to Between Two Beers Podcast.
Best Business and Finance Podcast went to Making Cents with Frances Cook by Frances Cook Media.
Best Comedy Podcast went to Not for Radio from The Rock.
Best Science and Environmental Podcast went to Voice of the Sea Ice from RNZ.
Best News and Current Affairs Podcast went to The Detail by RNZ and Newsroom.
Best History and Documentary Podcast went to The Lodge from RNZ.
Best Health and Wellbeing Podcast went to Sex.Life from ZM.
Best Sports Podcast went to The Agenda Podcast by The ACC.
Best True Crime Podcast went to Diagnosis of a Crime by Newsroom.
Best Reo Māori Podcast went to Witi Underwater by RNZ, Adam Dudding and Faultline Films.
Best Asian Podcast went to Unfiltered with Sandy and Ruzbeh from Humm FM.
Podcast of the Year went to Between Two Beers Podcast.
The Blackie Award went to Wind of Change from The Rock.
The Best Pacific Podcast category was not awarded in 2026 due to insufficient entries.
Radio programming and production winners
In children’s programming, Suzy & Friends in a POD-Cast by RNZ and Treehut won Best Children’s Programme.
Search & Rescue NZ from RNZ won Best Documentary or Factual Talk Feature.
Radio Hauraki G.O.A.T, Greatest Of All Time, won Best Music Feature.
Real Talk with Rahul from Radio Tarana won Best Asian Language Programme.
WTH Are Māori Wards? from Access Radio Taranaki won Best Access Radio Programme.
PMN Fiji won Best Pacific Language Programme.
Christian Boston, Reagan White and Amy Tempero from More FM won Best Content Director or Content Team.
Tiegan Lilley and Lee Weir won Best Show Producer or Producing Team for a Music Show for The Rock Drive with Jay and Dunc.
Kerrie Shaw won Best Show Producer or Producing Team for a Talk Show for The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.
The Edge Breakfast’s Hit the Spot Bohemian Rhapsody won Best Video, Short Form.
Feral from RNZ National won Best Video, Long Form.
RNZ Digital and Social won Best Digital Content.
Voice of the Sea Ice from RNZ won Best Podcast Technical Production.
The NZME Podcast Network, iHeartRadio NZ, won Best Podcast Producer or Producing Team.
Presenter, host and talent winners
Ethan Griffiths from Newstalk ZB won Best New Talent, Journalist.
Anna Shine from Flava won Best New Talent, Off-Air.
Bec Sandys from Radio Hauraki won Best New Talent, Presenter.
More FM’s Breakfast Club with Si and Lana won Best Music Network Breakfast Show.
Lee Weir from The Rock won Best Music Network Host.
Bree and Clint from ZM won Best Music Network Team.
The Hits Dunedin Breakfast with Callum and P won Best Local Music Breakfast Show or Host.
Jack Girling from More FM Rotorua won Best Local Music Host.
The Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB won Best Talk Presenter, Breakfast or Drive.
Marcus Lush Nights on Newstalk ZB won Best Talk Presenter, Non-Breakfast or Drive.
Heather du Plessis-Allan from Newstalk ZB won the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year award.
These awards recognise the presenters and on-air teams who continue to inform, entertain and connect with audiences across the country.
Journalism, news and sport winners
Sam Sherwood from RNZ won Best Journalist.
RNZ’s Investigation into Jevon McSkimming won Best News or Sports Story, Team Coverage.
Raylene Ramsay from Newstalk ZB won Best News or Sports Reader.
Scotty and Izzy for Breakfast from Sport Nation won Best Sports Presenter or Commentator.
These categories recognise the role of strong reporting, news delivery and sports broadcasting in keeping New Zealanders informed and engaged.
Te reo Māori and te ao Māori winners
Kapu Tairāwhiti from Tūranga FM won Best Broadcast in Te Reo Māori.
Reo Rangahau from Tūmeke FM won Best Te Reo Māori or Te Ao Māori Initiative.
These awards acknowledge the importance of Māori broadcasting, language revitalisation, cultural storytelling and kaupapa-driven media in New Zealand’s wider audio sector.
Creative, commercial and campaign winners
The Hits Golden Teabag Tickets with Dilmah won Best Client Promotion or Activation.
Back for More from More FM and MediaWorks won Best Marketing Campaign.
Grey District Council’s The Killer Was the Victim Benoit Blanc Campaign won Best Commercial Campaign.
Road Safe Northland, No Sense It Makes by MediaWorks won Best Single Commercial.
The Radio Bureau won Network or Metropolitan Sales Team of the Year.
MediaWorks Manawatu Sales Team won Regional or Provincial Sales Team of the Year.
The ACC and Export Ultra 2025 won Best Sponsorship and Partnership.
The Rock 2000 won Best Network Station Promotion.
P’s Middle Age Mama Cheerleaders from The Hits Dunedin won Best Single Market Station Promotion.
The Edge won Best Station Imaging.
ZM’s Wrapped 2025 won Best Station Trailer.
Radio Hauraki Day in Loo, from the BOWELS of Eden Park, won Best Community Campaign.
These awards highlight the creative engine behind radio and podcasting, from marketing and promotions to commercial storytelling and community engagement.
Station and industry honours
Newstalk ZB won Network Station of the Year.
More FM Northland won Local Station of the Year.
Sun FM won Independent Station of the Year.
Jana Rangooni received the Outstanding Contribution to Radio honour.
Services to Broadcasting honours went to Eti Fuimaono McCarthy, Ray Smith, Clare Sziranyi, Pawan Prasad, Matinee Idle, Angela Gordon and Jon Dunstan.
These honours recognise long-term service, leadership and contribution across New Zealand’s broadcasting industry.
Webfit News perspective
From a Webfit News perspective, the 2026 NZ Radio and Podcast Awards are a reminder that New Zealand’s audio industry is built by many different voices.
Some winners come from major national networks. Some come from regional stations. Some come from independent podcasts. Some come from ethnic, Pacific, Māori and access radio spaces.
Together, they show the strength of New Zealand’s media landscape.
Every winner deserves recognition, because each category represents a different part of the same industry. Presenters, journalists, producers, sales teams, digital teams, podcast creators, community broadcasters and station leaders all play a role in keeping audiences connected.
The 2026 awards were not only about trophies. They were about acknowledging the people and teams who continue to make radio and podcasting relevant in a changing media world.
Webfit News congratulates all winners, finalists and teams recognised at the 2026 NZ Radio and Podcast Awards.
