The Radio Industry Awards Committee (RIAC) have re-branded of the NZ Radio Awards to the NZ Radio & Podcast Awards and added 16 new categories.
NZ Radio & Podcast Awards Committee Chair, Jana Rangooni said:
“To recognise both the changes in the audio media landscape and the uniquely New Zealand landscape we operate in, it is important that we evolve the radio awards. Radio continues to reach 3.6 million New Zealanders every week with podcasts now reaching over 1.2 million Kiwis (16+) every week, so we are excited to bring podcasts into our industry celebration.”
The new awards program will now include a significant podcast component alongside some revised radio categories. There will be 16 podcast categories across numerous genres including Podcast of the Year and for Te Reo Māori, Pacific & Asian content to acknowledge the work done by broadcasters and podcasters in the diverse communities of New Zealand.
New Podcast Categories
• Podcast of the Year
• Best Independent Podcast
• Best Podcast Technical Production
• Best Podcast Producer or Producing Team
• Best Society & Culture (includes family & parenting)
• Best Business Podcast (business, finance, tech, money)
• Best Comedy Podcast
• Best News & Current Affairs Podcast
• Best History & Documentary Podcast
• Best Health & Wellbeing Podcast (incl sex & relationships)
• Best Podcast by a Radio Show
• Best Sports Podcast
• Best True Crime Podcast
• Best Reo Māori Podcast
• Best Pacific Podcast
• Best Asian Podcast
New Radio Programme Categories
• Best Pacific Language Programme
• Best Asian Language Programme
• Best Broadcast in Te Reo Māori
• Best Te Reo Māori / Te Ao Māori Initiative
Removed Categories
• Best Show – Non-Surveyed Market
• News Sports Story –Team Coverage (merged with Best News Story –Team Coverage)
• Best Voice Talent
• Best Commercial Production
Amended Categories
• Best News or Sports Story –Team Coverage
• Best Local Music Breakfast Show
• Best Local Music Host
• Best Children’s Programme (now includes podcasts)
• Best Commercial Campaign
Entries for the 2024 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards open on 29 January 2024 and close on 6 March. 2024 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards finalists & Silver category winners will be announced early April and all winners early June 2024. Further details are here.