View the full list of categories and awards.

View detailed entry and judging criteria for each award.

The list of awards on offer for the 52^nd Media Awards highlights the very best in New Zealand journalism today, with 38 premium awards across four categories: All Media; Audio, Digital and Video; Photography; and Written.

One new award has been introduced this year to the All Media category: Best Specialist Reporting, which recognises excellence in specialist or beat reporting that demonstrates sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a specific area, topic, issue or subject that is not already covered in any of our other awards.

Best Photo-Story has been reintroduced to the Photography category, recognising the skill involved in photojournalism reportage – narrating a visual story in a series of photographs that gives viewers insight into an event or topic.

There have been changes to entry criteria for some awards this year so please make sure you read all entry information carefully.

Entries close on Friday 21 February 2025, with the list of finalists being released in April.  Go to the Voyager Media Awards website during the entry open period to access the entry portal and submit your entries.

Fri 17 Jan 2025 – Entries open (10am)
Fri 21 Feb 2025 – Entries close (5pm)
March 2025 – Judging
Fri 11 Apr 2025 – Finalists announced and tickets on sale
Fri 16 May 2025 – Winners announced at a celebration at the Grand Millennium, Auckland

We are so grateful to have the continued support of our generous sponsors including:
Voyager Internet, Air New Zealand, ANZ Bank New Zealand, NZ On Air, Spark NZ, Sport NZ, Media Chaplaincy New Zealand, Media Copyright Agency (MCA) and Telum Media.

Without their generous support these awards would not be possible.*

Aotearoa’s national Media Awards have celebrated excellence in New Zealand journalism for 52 years. Originally known as the Qantas Press Awards, then the Canon Media Awards, Voyager Internet has been the premier sponsor since 2018. The awards are managed and promoted by the News Publishers’ Association which champions the news media industry of New Zealand.

Please direct any queries about the 2025 Voyager Media Awards to voyagermediaawards@npa.co.nz