The New Zealand Television Awards are pleased to announce the finalists for 2023, with a total of 115 nominations from more than 490 entries across 37 judged 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.
Kingfisher Films and Keeper Pictures in association with Southern Light Film’s co-production drama series The Gone, which screened on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ and premieres this month on Ireland’s RTÉ, received the most nominations of any individual production this year with a total of nine nods across multiple categories, including the prestigious Best Actor (Richard Flood), Best Actress (Michelle Fairley) and NZ On Air Best Drama categories. The third season of Great Southern TV’s crime drama One Lane Bridge, which played on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, is up for eight awards, including Best Actor and Best Production Design; and Tikilounge Productions’ groundbreaking teenage drama series Inky Pinky Ponky, which screened on Whakaata Māori and The Coconet, along with Chaos Films Ltd, Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd & Augusto Ltd’s feature length drama Princess of Chaos for TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ both received five nods apiece.
In the news and current affairs categories, Newshub – which won Best News Coverage in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022- has received a total of five nominations in 2023, including Best News Coverage category for their reporting on Cyclone Gabrielle, Best Presenter: News & Current Affairs (Paddy Gower for his work on Newshub Live at 6pm, Paddy Gower Has Issues, AM and The Project NZ), Reporter of the Year (Lisette Reymer), Best Current Affairs Show (Paddy Gower Has Issues) and The Hui gets the nod for Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme. TVNZ news has received eight nominations this year, including two nods in the Best News Coverage category for their 1 News coverage of both the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Mark Crysell (Sunday) and Thomas Mead (1 News) are both finalists for Reporter of the Year. In the Best Presenter: News And Current Affairs category, both Q+A host Jack Tame and Breakfast host Jenny-May Clarkson have been nominated; and 1 News’s ongoing investigation series Slash/Tairāwhiti is a finalist in the Best Factual Series category. Whakaata Māori’s Te Ao with Moana and Newsroom’s Newsroom Investigates have both received nominations in the Best Current Affairs category, with Te Ao with Moana also receiving a nod for Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme.
South Pacific Pictures’ unscripted comedy series Educators for TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ has been nominated in three categories, including Best Comedy. The series has also received nods in the Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama / Comedy Drama category for director Jesse Griffin and Rick Donald in the Best Supporting Actor category. Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ’s 7 Days for ThreeNow and Three, Miss Conception Films’ Not Even for Sky Open and Kevin & Co’s Homebound 3.0 for ThreeNow and Three complete the nominations for Best Comedy.
In the Factual and Documentary categories, the Stella Maris Production and Caravan Carpark Films’ series When Bob Came, exploring the cultural impact of Bob Marley’s one and only visit to Aotearoa in 1979 for TVNZ+ and Te Imurangi Ltd’s Homesteads for Whakaata Māori join TVNZ’s Slash/ Tairawhiti in the Best Factual Series Category. Homesteads has also received nods in the Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme category and the Best Director: Documentary/Factual category for director for Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne. Documentary Inside Child Poverty Revisited from Red Sky Film & Television Ltd for ThreeNow and Three, joins Stuff Circuit’s Fire and Fury and Kindred Films’ No Māori Allowed for TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ in the NZ On Air Best Documentary category. No Māori Allowed has also received a nomination for director Corinna Hunziker in the Best Director: Documentary/ Factual category.
A entertaining mix of original programming make up the Best Original Reality Series finalists this year, including Storymaker Ltd’s Unbreakable: Season 2 for TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, Imagination TV’s Heartbreak Island: Season 3 for ThreeNow and Hi Mama Productions’ The Walkers: Season 2 for TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
In the performance categories, comedy series Double Parked has received two Best Actress nominations for show leads Madeleine Sami and Antonia Prebble. Newcomer Amanaki Prescott-Faletau completes this category, gaining a nomination for her performance in Inky Pinky Ponky. In the Best Supporting Actress category, Inky Pinky Ponky is again acknowledged with a nod for Sesilia Pusiaki; Katlyn Wong for Princess of Chaos and Michelle Fairley for The Gone round out this category. The Best Actor category sees Irish actor Richard Flood nominated for The Gone. He is joined by kiwi actors Dominic Ona-Ariki for his role on One Lane Bridge and Neill Rea for his role in long-running murder mystery series The Brokenwood Mysteries. Winner of last year’s Best Supporting Actor category, Scotty Cotter, finds himself again nominated, not once, but twice in 2023 for his performances in Kura and Not Even – a first for these Awards.
The New Zealand Television Awards 2023 Television Legend and finalists in the publicly voted 2023 Television Personality of the Year category are yet to be announced.
The 2023 New Zealand Television Awards show will be held at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, on Tuesday 5th December. Actor and comedian Kura Forrester returns to host the event.
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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
Te Imurangi Ltd / Whakaata Māori
Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme
Rage Against The Rangatahi MMXXII
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
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
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 / Stuff
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 / Stuff
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, Episode 7714, 7715, 7716
South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
Amanaki Prescott-Faletau & Leki Jackson-Bourke
Inky Pinky Ponky
Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet / Whakaata Māori
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