The New Zealand Herald has won the ultimate industry accolade - crowned Newspaper of the Year at tonight's Canon Media Awards, just seven months after launching in its new compact format.
The Herald Online also won for Best News Website in a year in which the homepage was redesigned and the digital audience hit record levels.
The new-look NZ Herald scooped most of the major newspaper prizes - it also won Best Daily Newspaper (over 30,000 circulation), Best Design, and Best Newspaper Inserted Magazine for its Friday specialist publication, The Business.
As well as taking the top metropolitan honours, APN was also awarded Newspaper of the Year (under 30,000) with the Bay of Plenty Times winning for the second year running.
In individual awards went to the Herald's David Fisher who was named Best Senior Reporter - the second time he's won the prize - and John Armstrong won Best Columnist. Freelancer Anna Crichton was named Best Artist, with Herald work featuring in her winning portfolio.
Other big APN winners included The Daily Post's Stephen Parker, named Senior Press Photographer of the year; the Herald on Sunday's Peter Bromhead, named Cartoonist of the Year; and The Listener's Diana Wichtel, named Reviewer of the Year.
NZ Herald editor Shayne Currie said the awards were recognition of the biggest print and digital changes in the Herald's 150-year history.
"The move to compact format has been a brilliant success, but it was so much more than a new design. We overhauled our content to ensure we stayed relevant and topical, with a greater focus on in-depth journalism, new columnists and revamped sections and lift-outs.
"Our readers and advertisers have told us they love the changes - it's terrific that the Canon judges have reaffirmed that, and recognition of all the blood, sweat and tears that went into the project across the NZ Herald."
It is the sixth time in a row a Herald title has won the Newspaper of the Year award, following previous wins by the daily NZ Herald (2011), the Weekend Herald (2009/2012) and the Herald on Sunday (2008/2010).
Herald titles and staff were nominated for more than 30 awards, the best of any title.
The Canon judges described the NZ Herald as a "clear winner" and a remarkably energised newspaper that worked hard for its readers.
"The New Zealand Herald is a triumph," said judge Mark Hollands, a former CEO of the Pacific Area Newspapers Association and now CEO of the Australian newspaper marketing arm, Newspaper Works.
"It has modernised and become more relevant to the needs of readers. It has lost none of its authority or the power of its journalism. It has gained on every front. There's nothing to touch it this year. It is the standout."
As well as best news website, the Herald won Best Website Breaking News Coverage and Best Innovation in New Technologies for its Window 8 app.
Herald Online editor and Head of News, Cathy O'Sullivan says: "This is something we're incredibly proud of. Over the last seven years the Herald has won Best News Website five times and Best Website twice. Our award for the breaking news coverage for the West Auckland tornado is also a fantastic accolade and demonstrates the strengths of the digital team to keep readers up-to-date on the very latest news as it unfolds."
The Canon Media Awards tops off a stellar performance by APN. APN Print plants at Ellerslie, Tauranga, Hastings and Wanganui were awarded a total of six Gold medals and four Highly Commended at the annual New Zealand Pride in Print awards. This awards night celebrates printing excellence over all print categories and is an outstanding achievement for the team.
APN awards:
ONLINE
Best News Site
nzherald.co.nz
Best Digital Breaking News Coverage
The New Zealand Herald
Best Innovation in New Technologies
The New Zealand Herald - Window 8 app
NEWSPAPERS
Canon Newspaper of the Year
The New Zealand Herald
Newspaper of the Year (over 30,000 circulation)
The New Zealand Herald
Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation)
Bay of Plenty Times
Best Newspaper Design
The New Zealand Herald
Best Newspaper Inserted Magazine
The Business - The New Zealand Herald
Senior Reporter of the Year
David Fisher - The New Zealand Herald
Reporter Science and Environment
Jamie Morton -The New Zealand Herald
Reporter Human Relations
Jared Savage - The New Zealand Herald
Newspaper Feature Writer Science and Environment
Russell Blackstock - Herald on Sunday
Newspaper Feature Writer Business
Geoff Cumming - Weekend Herald
Press Photographer of the Year - Senior
Stephen Parker - Rotorua Daily Post
Best Photo Essay or Slideshow
Richard Robinson - The New Zealand Herald
Best Artwork
Anna Crichton - The New Zealand Herald
Cartoonist of the Year
Peter Bromhead - Herald on Sunday
Best Columnist
John Armstrong - The New Zealand Herald
Best Headline
Jonathan Milne - Herald on Sunday
Review of the Year
Diana Wichtel - NZ Listener
MAGAZINES
Magazine Feature Writer - Business and Science
Rebecca Macfie - NZ Listener