Maori Television Presenters Win Top Honours at NZ TV Awards

Maori Television Presenters Win Top Honours at NZ Television Awards 2012

Maori Television’s Julian Wilcox and Matai Smith have won the prestigious best presenter titles at the New Zealand Television Awards 2012.

Wilcox took out the award for Best News or Current Affairs Presenter as well as Best Presenter: Te Reo Maori, while Smith was named Best Presenter: Entertainment/Factual.

Wilcox, who was up against TV3 stars John Campbell and Mike McRoberts for the prized news and current affairs title, won the award for his role as presenter of NATIVE AFFAIRS.

A fluent te reo Maori speaker, he was also awarded Best Presenter: Te Reo Maori for his live coverage of the Venerable Dr Hone Kaa’s funeral in April.

Presenter Matai Smith was recognised for his work on Maori Television’s flagship karaoke show, HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI, which he has hosted for the past three years.

Maori Television received 13 nominations across a number of categories for the television industry awards, which were given out at the Langham Hotel in Auckland tonight.

The network also picked up awards for Best Popular Documentary (The Green Chain) and Best Maori Language Programme (Whare Taonga), which were both produced by Scottie Productions for Maori Television.

Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather said the entire whanau of Maori Television is extremely proud of the success of its presenters and independent producers.

“Our mission is to contribute to Maori success through promoting Maori language and culture, and these awards recognise that credible progress is being made towards that goal.

“As we head towards our tenth anniversary in March 2014, it is extremely fulfilling to witness the positive effect of Maori Television on both mainstream and Maori broadcasting,” he said.

Best Presenter – Entertainment/Factual

Matai Smith

Homai Te Pakipaki

Maori Television

Best News OR Current Affairs Presenter

Julian Wilcox

Political All In

Native Affairs (Maori Television)

JDA

Best Popular Documentary

The Green Chain

Meg Douglas & Kathleen Mantel

Scottie Productions Limited (Maori Television)

Te Mangai Paho

Best Maori Language Programme

Whare Taonga

Meg Douglas

Scottie Productions (Maori Television)

Best Presenter: Te Reo Maori

Julian Wilcox

Native Affairs

Maori Television

ENDS

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