Kellie Blizard
She missed the event itself as she was still on air, but Heather du Plessis-Allan was the big winner at the NZ Radio & Podcast Awards in Auckland, where she picked up the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year trophy.
Speaking to Woman’s Day at the after-party, the 41-year-old Newstalk ZB host – who welcomed her second child, daughter Mackay, in Janaury – said, “I was not expecting this, which is why I’m in my civvies. I’ve just come in from the office!
“I’m not trying to make this about being a woman or being a mum, but when you’ve just had a baby and you’re out of the workforce for three months, you come back really unsure of your place and full of weird hormones that make you think you’re the worst broadcaster in the world. This has come at the most wonderful time to make me think everything’s OK – that I can ease myself back in and go for it.
“My husband [Barry Soper] says Paul would’ve been pleased. I don’t know if he necessarily would have, but I loved Paul. As a young braodcaster, I was fortunate enough to meet him a few times and he gave me some wonderful advice – that you can ask any question of anybody; it’s all about how you ask. I’ve always remembered that and tried to put it into practice.”
ZM’s Fletch, Vaughn & Hayley took out the prestigious Best Music Network Breakfast Show award, beating out stiff competition from The Edge, The Hits and The Rock. Hayley Sproull told the crowd at SkyCity Theatre, “I love this team very much and we’re genuine friends, which I think you can tell – that’s the magic.” Her co-host Vaughan Smith paid tribute to all the radio staff who had been made redundant in recent restructures and joked that he wanted to “acknowledge my hard work” at the gym, quipping, “I’m not fat this year, so I didn’t have to wear a comical Pokémon t-short.”
Another winner was Coast’s Lorna Riley, who picked up Best Music Network Host. At the after-match function at Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen, she told us, “I was completely shocked. I’ve got a good 20 or maybe 30 years on all the other finalists and there’s so much great talent out there, so I’m fully shocked. All the other finalists are amazing, but my contract’s up at the end of this year, so this can’t hurt, right?”
Meanwhile, host Jeremy Corbett announced broadcasting legend Stacey Morrison as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Radio prize, which drew huge applause and a standing ovation. The former Mai FM, Flava, Classic Hits and The Hits host paid tribute to radio listeners, saying, “We are nothing without those who listen to us, who share their lives with us. Sometimes when people listen to us, they’re lonely. Sometimes, they’re angry – like when they listen to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB!”
She thanked RNZ’s Mihingarangi Forbes (RNZ was a big winner in the podcast categories) and dedicated her award to her husband Scotty, saying, “To my true homey – your heart is my heart.” Stacey also asked the broadcasters in attendance to “uplift te reo Māori in your work practice”, adding, “I know it’s scary, but we can do this together.”
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