The New Zealand Screen Awards (NZSA) have announced the finalists for 2025, celebrating the depth and diversity of creative talent across Aotearoa’s screen industry.
From more than 700 entries across 57 categories, this year’s finalists reflect the vibrant storytelling, creativity, and technical excellence driving New Zealand’s film, television, and digital production landscape.
Nominees span free-to-air networks (TVNZ 1 & 2, Three, Sky Open, Whakaata Māori), subscription television, digital platforms, and streamers including NEON, TVNZ+, ThreeNow, MĀORI+, RNZ, and Coconet TV — alongside a strong slate of theatrical features.
For the first time, the NZSA recognises content made for theatrical release alongside programmes created for broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms — a move that reflects the increasingly integrated nature of today’s entertainment landscape. Eligible entries include works first released or broadcast in New Zealand between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025.
Leading this year’s nominations are Tinā, The Rule of Jenny Pen, and Ka Whawhai Tonu, each with nine nominations. Lee Tamahori’s The Convert and We Were Dangerous also feature strongly with six nods apiece.
The NZSA will also present the Screen Legend Award for outstanding contribution to the screen industry, alongside the finalists for the publicly voted Personality of the Year award, both to be announced at a later date.
Winners will be revealed at the New Zealand Screen Awards Ceremony on Friday, 21 November 2025, at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, hosted by comedian Pax Assadi.
New Zealand 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+
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
Hyundai 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
New Zealand 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 and 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
New Zealand 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+
New Zealand 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 / 2024
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
My Life is Murder
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
