New Zealand’s top events recognised at NZEA Awards

October 27, 2020

New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) has tonight announced the winners of the organisation’s Event Awards for 2019 in which 106 events vyed across eighteen categories, acknowledging the success of sports, arts and culture, community, corporate social responsibility and business events, individuals, venues, sponsors and suppliers.

According to NZEA, while the global events industry has faced unprecedented challenges through 2020, New Zealand events organisers, venues and the entire supply chain are positioned for a strong comeback, with pent-up demand, resurgent consumer spending, and a population eager to get out and about after the tough months of lockdown.

In announcing the winners of the organisation’s Event Awards for 2019, NZEA General Manager Ségolène de Fontenay noted that while the outlook is uncertain owing to the unfolding global situation, the sector is ready for its recovery phase which in turn will help drive much needed domestic tourism.

De Fontenay highlighted that “New Zealanders love their events, and that’s been clear in the quality and sheer number of entries received for the 2019 season. It’s an honour to recognise excellence not only from the winners, but also from every finalist.”

Every year hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders choose to engage with events, through their attendance, participation and volunteering. Not only does this provide significant social, physical, and cultural benefits, de Fontenay points to the contribution the events industry can make to the economic recovery of New Zealand’s domestic tourism sector advising “Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis has noted that up to one third of domestic travel is driven by people looking to take part in events. That’s a multi-billion dollar spend directly linked to the work of event professionals.”

De Fontenay praised the consistently high standard of award entries commenting “with such high standards, I’d like to congratulate all our finalists and most importantly, those winners who took home an award tonight. I’d also like to thank the industry for the remarkable way in which it has navigated in this most unusual of COVID environments and for the resilience and professionalism New Zealand’s events sector continues to demonstrate.

“The NZ Events Association encourages all Kiwis to support the people who make our economy, culture and lives so much richer through vibrant events every year. Our country’s incredible events ecosystem helps to keep us engaged, educated, connected and entertained’ so please join us in celebrating them.”

The winners are:

Individual Awards
Best Emerging Event Professional 2019 (Sponsored by NZICC): Briar Jones
Best Established Event Professional 2019 (Sponsored by NZICC): Carla Steed
Best Event Sponsorship Professional 2019 (Sponsored by ATEED): Monique Gibson

Excellence Awards
Category: Best Arts or Cultural Event (Sponsored by Fresh Info)
Winner: Te Matatini ki te Ao 2019
Entered by: Te Matatini Society Incorporated

Category: Best Corporate Event
Winner: Building Nations 2019
Entered by: Infrastructure New Zealand

Category: Best Not-for-Profit or Cause-related Event
Winner: Harcourts Dancing for Hospice
Entered by: Rotorua Community Hospice

Category: Best Sports Event (Sponsored by Fresh Info)
Winner: Anchor AIMS Games
Entered by: AIMS Games Trust & Tauranga City Council

Category: Best International Event (Sponsored by Eventfinda)
Winner: 2019 HSBC New Zealand Sevens
Entered by New Zealand Rugby & 37 South Events

Category: Best Regional or National Event (Sponsored by Eventfinda)
Winner: Anchor AIMS Games
Entered by AIMS Games Trust & Tauranga City Council

Category: Best Local Government Event (Sponsored by Eventfinda)
Winner: Highlight: Carnival of Lights
Entered by Hutt City Council

Category: Best Community Event (Sponsored by Sidekicker)
Winner: TEDxChristchurch 2019
Entered by Missing Link Consultants

Category: Best Event Sponsorship
Winner: ASB Auckland Marathon
Entered by ASB

Category: Best Music or Entertainment Event (Sponsored by ATEED)
Winner: Second Unit – What Will You Do in the Shadows
Entered by Tāwhiri

Support Awards
Category: Best Design & Build
Winner: The Sephora Beauty Bus
Entered by DARKHORSE

Category: Best Event Marketing
Winner: Paintvine Paint and Wine Events
Entered by Paintvine

Category: Best Food Experience (Sponsored by ATEED)
Winner: TEDxChristchurch
Entered by Missing Link Consultants & Vbase

Category: Best Supplier (Sponsored by NZICC)
Winner: Sidekicker for The All Blacks Game at Westpac Stadium (July 2019)
Entered by Sidekicker

Category: Best Venue (Sponsored by Sidekicker)
Winner: Wellington Regional Stadium Trust for Te Matatini ki te Ao 2019 and Eminem Rapture 2019
Entered by: Wellington Regional Stadium Trust

New Zealand’s Favourite Event (Sponsored by Fresh Info) by public vote
Winner: One Love 2019
Entered by: Pato Entertainment

Images from top: NZEA Awards 2019 Best Sports Event (Sponsored by Fresh Info) - Anchor AIMS Games; NZEA Awards 2019 Best Arts or Cultural Event (Sponsored by Fresh Info) - Te Matatini ki te Ao 2019 and NZEA Awards 2019 Best International Event (Sponsored by Eventfinda) - 2019 HSBC New Zealand Sevens.

26th October 2020 - Sustainable event advocates release global guidelines for best practice of reusables at events

5th October 2020 - CINZ advises business events given green light across New Zealand

2nd October 2020 - Venues in 25 nations light up red to back #WeMakeEvents initiative

30th September 2020 - Hamilton lights up in support of the entertainment and events industry

28th September 2020 - Entertainment Technology New Zealand backs global #WeMakeEvents campaign

28th September 2020 - New Zealand welcomes return of international sporting events

22nd September 2020 - CINZ organises new one-day business events industry showcase in Auckland

9th June 2020 - Director General of Health signs off on New Zealand Events Sector Voluntary Code

21st May 2020 - New Zealand events bodies submit industry recovery plan to Government

7th April 2020 - New Zealand Events Association highlights dramatic deterioration of the sector

24th March 2020 - New Zealand events industry reports cancellation of more than 3,000 events

27th March 2019 - FMG Stadium Waikato awarded as New Zealand’s ‘Best Venue’

13th October 2017 - New Zealand’s top events recognised at NZEA Awards 2017

10th October 2017 - H3 helps shine spotlight on event industry excellence

19th August 2014 - Social media advocate takes the lead at New Zealand events industry conference

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