The New Zealand Podcast Awards, supported by Acast, have been held, celebrating independent creators and established networks alike.

The Spinoff’s Fury of the Small enjoyed a breakout year, winning Gold in both Best Fiction Podcast and Best New Podcast, and adding further recognition with Silver in The Creativity Award and Podcast of the Year. The Curve Podcast confirmed the strength of New Zealand’s independent scene, taking Gold in both Best Education Podcast and Best Independent Podcast, alongside Bronze in Podcast of the Year.

Several shows picked up multiple awards. Heaven’s Helpline was recognised in factual, history, true crime and emerging talent categories, including Gold in The Rising Star Award for journalist Murray Jones, while The Dom Harvey Podcast backed up wins last year with top honours in both Best Arts and Culture Podcast and Best Interview Podcast.

Listeners’ Choice, decided entirely by public vote, went to #BHN Big Hairy News, reflecting the show’s highly engaged audience across subscriptions and social channels. True crime series GUILT led its category with Gold in Best True Crime Podcast, while also featuring in documentary, history and spotlight awards.

Unfiltered with Dave Letele took Gold in Best Māori or Pasifika Podcast or Host. The Flood was recognised with Gold in The Climate Award for its focus on environmental issues, and Satanic Panic took Gold in The Creativity Award.
Podcast of the Year

This year’s top honour, Podcast of the Year, went to Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt. The show was the night’s most decorated winner, also taking Gold in both Best Documentary Podcast and Best History Podcast, plus Silver in Best Factual Podcast.

Full list of winners in the New Zealand Podcast Awards below:

BEST ARTS AND CULTURE PODCAST
Gold – The Dom Harvey Podcast
Silver – Interconnector
Bronze – What Matters Most

BEST BRANDED PODCAST
Gold – When the Facts Change
Silver – The Melding Muse Podcast
Bronze – Parents We’ve Met

BEST BUSINESS PODCAST
Gold – Accidental Business Owners
Silver – Fresh Moni
Bronze – Human In The Loop

BEST COMEDY PODCAST
Gold – Can’t Handle The Crime And Scandal
Silver – Did Titanic Sink: Season 2
Bronze – Wellington Paranormal: The Podcast

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PODCAST
Gold – The Detail
Silver – Locked Out with Craig Renney
Bronze – The Frontline with Dr Gary Payinda

BEST DOCUMENTARY PODCAST
Gold – Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt
Silver – Satanic Panic
Bronze – GUILT

BEST EDUCATION PODCAST
Gold – The Curve Podcast
Silver – Untidy
Bronze – Unfiltered with Dave Letele

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PODCAST
Gold – Extremely Casual Gamers
Silver – The Dom Harvey Podcast
Bronze – Can’t Handle The Crime And Scandal

BEST FACTUAL PODCAST
Gold – Heaven’s Helpline
Silver – Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt
Bronze – Among The Missing

BEST FAMILY PODCAST
Gold – Untidy
Silver – Alpha 8
Bronze – Why Do You Parent Like That?

BEST FICTION PODCAST
Gold – Fury of the Small
Silver – Did Titanic Sink: Season 2
Bronze – Alpha 8

BEST HEALTH AND WELLBEING PODCAST
Gold – Take It From Us with Kent Johns
Silver – Grey Areas with Petra Bagust
Bronze – Good Shift

BEST HISTORY PODCAST
Gold – Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt
Silver – GUILT
Bronze – Heaven’s Helpline

BEST INDEPENDENT PODCAST
Gold – The Curve Podcast
Silver – The Dom Harvey Podcast
Bronze – Interconnector

BEST INTERVIEW PODCAST
Gold – The Dom Harvey Podcast
Silver – Between Two Beers
Bronze – Unfiltered with Dave Letele

BEST MĀORI OR PASIFIKA PODCAST OR HOST
Gold – Unfiltered with Dave Letele
Silver – Fresh Moni
Bronze – Āio: a road to peace

BEST NETWORK OR PUBLISHER
Gold – The Spinoff
Silver – Frank Podcasts
Bronze – BHN

BEST NEW PODCAST
Gold – Fury of the Small
Silver – Heaven’s Helpline
Bronze – Among The Missing

BEST RADIO PODCAST
Gold – The Morning Rumble Podcast
Silver – Yarns with Andy
Bronze – Witi Underwater

BEST SPORTS PODCAST
Gold – Between Two Beers Podcast
Silver – What A Lad
Bronze – Full Credit

BEST TRUE CRIME PODCAST
Gold – GUILT
Silver – Heaven’s Helpline
Bronze – Satanic Panic

THE CLIMATE AWARD
Gold – The Flood
Silver – People | Planet | Food – Scigest
Bronze – Tune into Nature with Karthic

THE CREATIVITY AWARD
Gold – Satanic Panic
Silver – Fury of the Small
Bronze – Interconnector

THE RISING STAR AWARD
Gold – Heaven’s Helpline
Silver – Unfiltered with Dave Letele
Bronze – Can’t Handle The Crime And Scandal

THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD
Gold – The Boy in the Water
Silver – GUILT
Bronze – The Dom Harvey Podcast

JUDGES’ PICKS
Gold – Interconnector
Silver – The Artful Dodger
Bronze – That’s Just Criminal

LISTENERS’ CHOICE
Gold – #BHN Big Hairy News
Silver – The Happy Saver
Bronze – Paul… The Other One Podcast

PODCAST OF THE YEAR

Gold – Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt
Silver – Fury of the Small
Bronze – The Curve Podcast