The who’s who of the television industry gathered in Auckland tonight for the New Zealand Television Awards.
Jean, the drama about the life of celebrated aviator Jean Batten was the big winner on the night, taking out four awards including best actress for Kate Elliott, best director for Robert Sarkies and Best Feature Drama.
Kate admitted she didn’t know much about Jean Batten before taking on the role.
“I’m typecast as a difficult woman and those women never get cast or get stories made about them. But I celebrate it. To be honest, I barely knew anything about [Jean Batten] before we started filming. I didn’t even know the airport was named after her!”
Kate Elliott won Best Actress for her portrayal of Jean Batten in ‘Jean.’ Photo / Getty Images
Dean O’Gorman won the best actor award for his portrayal of George Lowe in Hillary, the drama about the life of Sir Edmund Hillary.
“It was scary being up on stage” he said. “It’s all the people I’ve worked with in the industry and there’s no script or character to hide behind. It’s quite a rush.”
Dean O’Gorman receives his Best Actor award for his portrayal of George Lowe in Hillary. Photo / Getty Images
Newshub also did well, winning the Best News Coverage gong for their reporting of the Kaikoura earthquake. And presenter Mike McRoberts took out the Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs award ahead of colleagues Kanoa Lloyd and Jesse Mulligan.
Speaking after receiving the award, Mike told Woman’s Day “It’s a real affirmation of what we do and the product we present. Newshub has been through a lot of changes and it’s such a great show. I’ve always believed we’ve got the best people.”
“Sam [Hayes] and I are going great as a team, and we’ve got a fantastic team of reporters and craftspeople … It’s just all starting to fire!”
Mike McRoberts with his award for Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs. Photo / Getty Images
800 Words edged out Westside and Cleverman to take out Best Drama Series and Three’s 7 Days won Best Comedy or Entertainment Programme. The award didn’t come as a surprise to Anna Jullienne.
“I was very confident. I’d already Instagrammed that we won before the awards started. I knew it was coming!”
The cast of 800 Words with their award for Best Drama Series. Photo / Getty Images
And one of our favourite women, Toni Street won the Woman’s Day Television Personality of the Year award, as voted by the magazine’s readers.
“I didn’t prepare a speech at all and when I was watching all the other winners pull out their bits of paper” she said.
“I was like, ‘Oh, God, if I win this, I don’t have any idea what to say.’ Hopefully it was OK. I’ll get the debrief from my husband after.”
For the full list of winners see below. And for all of the gossip from the night and extra pages of photos make sure you grab a copy of next week’s Woman’s Day.
New Zealand On Air Best Drama Series
800 Words 2
Images & Sound Best Feature Drama
Jean
New Zealand On Air Best Factual Series
Why Am I? – The Science of Us
New Zealand On Air Best Documentary
Making Good Men
Best Reality Series
Songs from the Inside III Christchurch
Best Lifestyle Programme
Karena & Kasey’s Kitchen Diplomacy
Best Current Affairs Programme
The Politician, The Police and The Payout, 20 June 2017
New Zealand On Air Best Web Series
Loading Docs
Planet Fun Best Children’s Programme
Terry Teo
Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme
The Hui
Best Pasifika Programme
TalesOfTime – The Coconet TV
Best News Coverage
Kaikoura Earthquake, Newshub Team
Best Sports Programme
Shaun Johnson: Across The Mekong
Best Live Event Coverage
International Rugby: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions 1st Test, SKY TV
Best Comedy or Comedy Entertainment Programme
7 Days
Best Director: Documentary or Factual
Mitchell Hawkes, Born This Way: Awa’s Story
Best Director: Drama
Robert Sarkies, Jean
Best Director: Multi Camera
Mitchell Hawkes, Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2016
Best Script: Comedy
Millen Baird & John Argall, Darryl: An Outward Bound Story.
Best Script: Drama
Paula Boock & Donna Malane, Jean
Godfrey Hirst Best Actress
Kate Elliot,Jean
Selaks Taste Collection Best Actor
Dean O’Gorman, Hillary
SKYCITY Best Presenter: Entertainment
The Topp Twins – Jools & Lynda Topp, Topp Country Season Two
Woman’s Day Television Personality Of The Year
Toni Street
Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs
Mike McRoberts
TV Legend
John Barnett
