The New Zealand Screen Awards (NZSA) have announced the finalists for 2025, showcasing the breadth and depth of talent from across New Zealand’s screen industry.
| NZ On Air Best Drama Series | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Brokenwood Mysteries | Tim Balme, Kelly Martin, Sally Campbell, Andrew Szusterman | South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Dead Ahead | Nicole Horan, Scotty Cotter | Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ |
| The Gone Season 2 | Reikura Kahi, Timothy White, Karl Zohrab, Yvonne Donohoe, Katie Holly | Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| A Remarkable Place To Die | Philly de Lacey, John Banas, Charlie Haskell, Bridget Bourke | Screentime New Zealand and Real Film Berlin / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| New Zealand Film Commission Best Feature Film | ||
| Tinā | Dan Higgins, Mario Gaoa, Miki Magasiva | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Ka Whawhai Tonu | Thomas Toby Parkinson, Piripi Curtis | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| We Were Dangerous | Morgan Waru, Polly Fryer | Piki Films / 2024 |
| New Zealand Film Commission Best Short Film | ||
| First Horse | Awanui Simich-Pene, Puti Simich, Mia Henry-Teirney, Heperi Mita | 787 Media / 2024 |
| Lea Tupu'anga | Mother Tongue | Vea Mafile'o, Luciane Buchanan, Alex Lovell, Eldon Booth | Run Charlie Films / 2024 |
| Rochelle | Tom Furniss, Luke Sharpe | Little Horse Films / 2024 |
| Best Comedy Programme | ||
| Vince | Bronwynn Bakker, Jono Pryor, Cam Bakker | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Madam | Tom Hern, Halaifonua Finau, Belindalee Hope | Tavake / XYZ Films / Three & ThreeNow |
| Happiness | Luke Di Somma , Kip Chapman | Greenstone TV / Three & ThreeNow |
| Best Factual Series | ||
| Country Calendar | Dan Henry, Katherine Edmond | TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Moving Houses | Neil Stichbury | Imagination Television Limited / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Bryn & Ku's Singles Club | Sophie Dowson, Jin Fellet | The Spinoff |
| NZ On Air Best Documentary - Series | ||
| Motuhaketanga | Kathleen Mantel | Black Iris Limited / Whakaata Māori / MĀORI+ |
| Live and Let Dai | Charlotte Hobson, Dai Henwood, Hayley Cunningham, Andrew Szusterman, Kelly Martin | South Pacific Pictures / Three & ThreeNow |
| Patrick Gower: On Ice | Arwen O'Connor | Ruckus / Three & ThreeNow |
| New Zealand Film Commission Best Documentary - Feature | ||
| Never Look Away | Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell, Lucy Lawless | GFC Films / 2024 |
| Stylebender | Fraser Brown, Leela Menon, Tom Blackwell | FluroBlack / 2023 |
| Maurice and I | Rick Harvie, Jane Mahoney | Belmont Productions / 2024 |
| The Lie | Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell | GFC Films / 2024 |
| Best Reality Series | ||
| The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes | Ben Bayly, Adrian Stevanon, Sam Blackley, Philip Smith, Briar Coleman | Great Southern Television / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ |
| The Traitors New Zealand | Charlotte Hobson, Hayley Cunningham, Kelly Martin, Andrew Szusterman, Jasper Hoogendoorn | South Pacific Pictures / Three & ThreeNow |
| Match Fit: Union vs League | Kimberley Hurley, Bailey Mackey | Pango Productions / Three & ThreeNow |
| Best Current Affairs Programme | ||
| Te Ao with Moana | Hikurangi Kimiora Jackson, Cameron Bennett | Black Pearl Limited / Whakaata Māori / MĀORI+ |
| The Hui | Rewa Harriman, Phillip Smith, Ruwani Perera, John Boynton | Great Southern Television / Stuff |
| Mata with Mihingarangi Forbes | Annabelle Lee-Mather, Mihingarangi Forbes, Natasha Vela | Aotearoa Media Collective / RNZ / YouTube |
| NZ On Air Best Children's Programme | ||
| First Place | Eileen Lee, Hope Papali'i | Tikilounge Productions / Coconet TV / TVNZ |
| Secrets at Red Rocks | Richard Fletcher , David Stubbs | Libertine Pictures / Sky Open & NEON |
| Kea Kids News | Luke Nola, Kendall Kukahiko | Luke Nola & Friends / Sky Open |
| Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme | ||
| Māori All Blacks: Bound by Blood | Joe Whitehead, Kimberley Hurley | Pango Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ / NZR+ |
| Homesteads Season 2 | Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne | Te Imurangi Limited / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Dead Ahead | Nicole Horan, Scotty Cotter | Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ+ |
| Mata Reports | Annabelle Lee-Mather, Mihingarangi Forbes, Eugene Bingham, Natasha Vela | Aotearoa Media Collective / RNZ / YouTube |
| Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme | ||
| Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey 2 | Kereama Wright, Mahanga Pihama, Riria Morgan, Arthur Rasmussen, Matua Houltham | Mairanga Media / RNZ |
| Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga | Brendon Butt, Bailey Mackey | Pango Productions / TVNZ / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| End of the Valley | Lea McLean, Richard Curtis | Miro Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| NZ On Air Best Pasifika Programme | ||
| Being Niuean | Natasha Panui-Morris, Shimpal Lelisi | Tikilounge Productions / Coconet TV / RNZ |
| Fight For The Pacific | Tuki Laumea, Cleo Fraser | Nine Islands Media / Al Jazeera English |
| We The South: The Manukau Rovers Story | Mark Malaki-Williams, Ross Karl | Sky Sport |
| First Place | Eileen Lee, Hope Papali'i | Tikilounge Productions / Coconet TV / TVNZ |
| Best News Coverage | ||
| Tasman Flooding | Phil O'Sullivan, Laura Barnsley, Tati Urale | 1 News / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| America's Cup Coverage | Lisette Reymer, Lucy Thomson, Lawrence Smith, Claire Watson, Tom Bartlett | Stuff.co.nz / ThreeNews / Three & ThreeNow |
| Hikoi ki Paremata | Roihana Nuri, Ripeka Timutimu, Peata Melbourne | Aukaha News / Tahu News / Te Reo o Te Uru / Te Ao Māori News / Te Karere |
| Kiingitanga Tangihanga | Phil O'Sullivan, Laura Barnsley, Tati Urale | 1 News / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Best Sports Programme | ||
| Māori All Blacks: Bound by Blood | Joe Whitehead, Kimberley Hurley | Pango Productions / Whakaata Māori / NZR+ |
| Grit & Glory | Robyn Scott-Vincent, Peter Brook Bell, Dan Salmon | Attitude Pictures / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| We The South: The Manukau Rovers Story | Mark Malaki-Williams, Ross Karl | Sky Sport |
| Best Live Event Coverage | ||
| Matariki mā Puanga 2025 | Brendon Butt | Kahawai Productions / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ / Sky Open / RNZ / Stuff / IWI Radio / Pacifica TV |
| Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga | Brendon Butt, Bailey Mackey | Pango Productions / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Te Raa Nehu o te Tangihanga o te Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII | Ngatapa Black, Mokotini Templeton | Waikato-Tainui / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Soljans Estate Winery Best Entertainment Programme | ||
| Taskmaster New Zealand Season 5 | Bronwynn Bakker, Cam Bakker, Paul Williams | Kevin & Co. / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ |
| Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee Season 2 | Bronwynn Bakker, Claudine Maclean, Guy Montgomery, Cam Bakker | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Whakanuia | Joe Whitehead | Pango Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Best Director: Documentary/Factual Series | ||
| Mike Gattanella | Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne | Blonde Razor Limited / Three & ThreeNow |
| Rachel Currie | Diary of a Junior Doctor | Storymaker / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Kathleen Mantel | Motuhaketanga | Black Iris Limited / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Best Director: Documentary Feature | ||
| Katie Wolfe | The Haka Party Incident | Tasman Ray / RNZ / 2024 |
| Julian Arahanga | The Stolen Children of Aotearoa | Awa Films / Whakaata Māori / 2025 |
| Rick Harvie and Jane Mahoney | Maurice and I | Belmont Productions / 2024 |
| Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama Series | ||
| Carey Carter | End Of The Valley | Miro Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Peter Meteherangi Tikao Burger | The Gone Season 2 | Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Chris Parker | Double Parked Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand Best Director: Drama Feature | ||
| Miki Magasiva | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Lee Tamahori | The Convert | Jump Film and Television / Brouhaha Entertainment / 2024 |
| James Ashcroft | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Best Actress in a Series | ||
| Antonia Prebble | Double Parked Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Madeleine Sami | Double Parked Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Miriama Smith | Dead Ahead | Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ+ |
| Equity New Zealand Best Actress in a Feature | ||
| Elizabeth Hawthorne | The Moon is Upside Down | Miss Conception Films Ltd / Escapade Pictures Ltd / 2024 |
| Anapela Polata'ivao | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Victoria Haralabidou | The Moon is Upside Down | Miss Conception Films Ltd / Escapade Pictures Ltd / 2024 |
| Erana James | We Were Dangerous | Piki Films / 2024 |
| Best Supporting Actress in a Series | ||
| Kura Forrester | Double Parked Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Natalie Medlock | Vince | Kevin &Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Ariāna Osborne | Madam | Tavake / XYZ Films / Three & ThreeNow |
| Best Supporting Actress in a Feature | ||
| Miriama Smith | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Antonia Eaton | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Rima Te Wiata | We Were Dangerous | Piki Films / 2024 |
| Best Actor in a Series | ||
| Stephen Lovatt | Shortland Street | South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ |
| Richard Flood | The Gone Season 2 | Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Xavier Horan | Dead Ahead | Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ+ |
| Best Actor in a Feature | ||
| Geoffrey Rush | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Ed Oxenbould | Head South | Head South Cohort / 2024 |
| John Lithgow | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Julian Dennison | Uproar | Velvet Moss / 2023 |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Series | ||
| Martin Henderson | Madam | Tavake / XYZ Films / Three & ThreeNow |
| Dominic Ona-Ariki | Double Parked Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Peter Hambleton | Happiness | Greenstone TV / Three & ThreeNow |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Feature | ||
| Beulah Koale | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| George Henare | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Temuera Morrison | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Reporter of the Year | ||
| Indira Stewart | TVNZ+ In-Depth | TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Paula Penfold | ThreeNews | Stuff.co.nz / Three & ThreeNow |
| Michael Morrah | Michael Morrah Investigates | NZ Herald / NZME |
| Barbara Dreaver | 1 News | TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Best Presenter: Entertainment | ||
| Jeremy Corbett | 7 Days | Sky Free / Three & ThreeNow |
| Brynley Stent & Kura Forrester | Bryn & Ku's Singles Club | The Spinoff |
| Guy Montgomery & Sanjay Patel | Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Dave Letele | Heavyweight with Dave Letele | Heavyweight Media / South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ |
| Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs | ||
| Ryan Bridge | HeraldNOW | NZ Herald / NZME |
| Moana Maniapoto | Te Ao with Moana | Black Pearl Limited / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Jack Tame | Q+A with Jack Tame | TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| John Campbell | TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ | |
| Best Editing: Documentary / Factual - Series | ||
| Justin Hawkes | Live and Let Dai | South Pacific Pictures / Three & ThreeNow |
| Tim Woodhouse, James Brown | Choir Games | Spacific Films / Sky Open & NEON |
| Simon Coldrick | Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne | Blonde Razor Ltd / Three & ThreeNow |
| Best Editing: Documentary / Factual - Feature | ||
| Sacha Campbell | Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara | The Down Low Concept / 2025 |
| Josh Yong | Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua Two Worlds | Monsoon Pictures International / Whakaata Māori / 2025 |
| Richard Lord | Maurice and I | Belmont Productions / 2024 |
| Best Editing: Drama - Series | ||
| Bryan Shaw | The Gone Season 2 | Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Lisa Hough | Happiness | Greenstone TV / Three & ThreeNow |
| Luke Earl, Rhys Green | Double Parked Season 2 | Kevin & Co. / Three & ThreeNow |
| Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand - Best Editing: Drama - Feature | ||
| Gretchen Peterson | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Chris Plummer, Martin Brinkler | Joika | Four Knights Film / 2024 |
| Luke Haigh | The Convert | Jump Film and Television / Brouhaha Entertainment / 2024 |
| Best Camerawork: Documentary / Factual - Series | ||
| Sean Loftin | Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the Line | Sweet Productions Ltd / Sky Open & NEON |
| Tom Fowlie | Homesteads Season 2 | Te Imurangi Limited / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Dominic Fryer | Live and Let Dai | South Pacific Pictures / Three & ThreeNow |
| Best Camerawork: Documentary / Factual - Feature | ||
| Tim Flower | Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua Two Worlds | Monsoon Pictures International / Whakaata Māori / 2025 |
| Evan Howell | Unmasking The Monsters | Greenstone TV / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ / 2024 |
| Brandon Te Moananui | The Stolen Children of Aotearoa | Awa Films / Whakaata Māori / 2025 |
| Best Director: Multi-Camera | ||
| Marcus Hildyard | Constellation Cup - Silver Ferns v Australia | Sky Sport |
| Marcus Kennedy | 2024 Bledisloe Cup - Wellington | Sky Sport |
| Matt Barrett | Anzac 2025 | Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Mark Kearns | 2025 Super Rugby - Crusaders v Blues | Sky Sport |
| Images and Sound Best Cinematography: Drama Series | ||
| Dave Cameron NZCS ACS | Madam | Tavake / XYZ Films / Three & ThreeNow |
| Simon Tutty | Secrets at Red Rocks | Libertine Pictures / Sky Open & NEON |
| Dave Cameron NZCS ACS | A Remarkable Place to Die | Screentime New Zealand and Real Film Berlin / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Images and Sound Best Cinematography: Feature Film | ||
| Maria Inés Manchego NZCS | We Were Dangerous | Piki Films / 2024 |
| Gin Loane | The Convert | Jump Film and Television / Brouhaha Entertainment / 2024 |
| Richard Bluck | Ash | GFC Films / 2024 |
| Andrew McGeorge | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Best Contribution to a Soundtrack: Series | ||
| Pinnacle Post Sound Team | Time Bandits | Piki Films / Paramount Television / Apple TV |
| Tom Miskin, Melanie Graham, Mike Bayliss, Steve Finnigan | Secrets at Red Rocks | Libertine Pictures / Sky Open & NEON |
| Envy Studios | Badjelly | Mukpuddy / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ |
| Screen Music & Sound Guild of New Zealand Best Contribution to a Soundtrack: Feature | ||
| John McKay, Matthew Lambourn | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Nick Buckton | Joika | Four Knights Film / 2024 |
| Dick Reade, Bruce Langley | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Liquid Studios | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Images and Sound Best Original Score - Series | ||
| Plan 9 - Janet Roddick, Steve Roche, David Donaldson | A Remarkable Place to Die | Screentime New Zealand and Real Film Berlin / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper | The Gone Season 2 | Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Stephen Gallagher, David Long | Secrets At Red Rocks | Libertine Pictures / Sky Open & NEON |
| Images and Sound Best Original Score - Feature | ||
| Dana Lund | Joika | Four Knights Film / 2024 |
| John Gibson | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Arli Liberman, Tiki Taane | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Sebastien Pan | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Best Post Production Design - Series | ||
| Alana Cotton - Colourist | Secrets at Red Rocks | Libertine Pictures / Sky Open & NEON |
| Jemma Lee - Colourist | End of the Valley | Miro Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Damian McDonnell - Colourist | Time Bandits | Piki Films / Paramount Television / Apple TV |
| Best Post Production Design - Feature | ||
| Carol Petrie, Jacob Leaf, Brenton Cumberpatch - VFX | Ash | GFC Films / 2024 |
| Alana Cotton - Colourist | Ash | GFC Films / 2024 |
| James Gardner - Colourist | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Best Production Design – Series | ||
| Nick Williams | The Gone Season 2 | Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Kylie Tiuka | End of the Valley | Miro Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| John Allan | Under the Vines Season 3 | Libertine Pictures & Perpetual Entertainment / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Best Production Design - Feature | ||
| Shayne Radford | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Nick Williams, Guy Moana | The Convert | Jump Film and Television / Brouhaha Entertainment / 2024 |
| Miro Harré | We Were Dangerous | Piki Films / 2024 |
| Best Costume Design - Series | ||
| Tania Klouwens | The Brokenwood Mysteries | South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Sammy Salsa | Madam | Tavake / XYZ Films / Three & ThreeNow |
| Sarah Voon | Under the Vines | Greenstone TV / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Best Costume Design - Feature | ||
| Liz McGregor | The Convert | Jump Film and Television / Brouhaha Entertainment / 2024 |
| Te Ura Hoskins | Ka Whawhai Tonu | Akeake Ltd / 2024 |
| Daisy Marcuzzi | We Were Dangerous | Piki Films / 2024 |
| Best Makeup Design - Series | ||
| Kevin Dufty | Happiness | Greenstone TV / Three & ThreeNow |
| Kevin Dufty | The Brokenwood Mysteries | South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Terese Tomlins | Dead Ahead | Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ+ |
| Best Makeup Design - Feature | ||
| Verity Griffiths, Brydie Stone | Forgive Us All | Stiles Pictures / Five Films / 2025 |
| Frankie Karena, Don Brooker | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Gabrielle Jones | The Convert | Jump Film and Television / Brouhaha Entertainment / 2024 |
| Australian Writers' Guild Authorship Collecting Society Best Script: Series | ||
| Victoria Boult | n00b | Great Southern Television / Three & ThreeNow |
| Richard J Curtis, Lea Mclean | End of the Valley | Miro Productions / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ |
| Tim Balme | The Brokenwood Mysteries | South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ |
| Dan Musgrove | Happiness | Greenstone TV / Three & ThreeNow |
| New Zealand Writers Guild Best Script: Feature | ||
| Miki Magasiva | Tinā | The Brown Factory / 2025 |
| Eli Kent, James Ashcroft | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Hyenas Rule Ltd / 2025 |
| Christine Jeffs | A Mistake | GFC Films / 2024 |
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