Aotearoa New Zealand’s brightest creatives, storytellers, stars, and behind-the-camera innovators gathered for one glittering night as the 2025 New Zealand Screen Awards | Ngā Taonga Whakaata o Aotearoa lit up Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre. With the full spectrum of screen excellence now honoured, from prestige drama to hard-hitting documentaries, groundbreaking Māori storytelling to crowd-pleasing series, the evening celebrated a phenomenal year for New Zealand’s ever-evolving screen industry.
Hosted by comedian Pax Assadi, who kept the room buzzing with his trademark charm and razor-sharp humour, the ceremony delivered a spectacular showcase of Aotearoa’s creative might.
THE CONVERT REIGNS SUPREME
The late, great Lee Tamahori’s historical epic The Convert emerged as the night’s undeniable titan, sweeping up five major awards and cementing its place as one of the year’s most powerful cinematic achievements.
The film claimed:
- DEGANZ Best Director: Drama Feature
- Images & Sound Best Cinematography: Feature
- Best Production Design: Feature
- Best Costume Design: Feature
- Best Makeup Design: Feature
In a deeply moving moment, producers Robin Scholes and Te Kohe Tuhaka accepted the Best Director award on behalf of Tamahori and his whānau, the room erupting in recognition of Tamahori’s extraordinary vision and his enduring impact on New Zealand cinema.
KA WHAWHAI TONU CLAIMS BEST FEATURE FILM
One of 2025’s most acclaimed releases, Ka Whawhai Tonu, took home New Zealand Film Commission’s Best Feature Film, celebrated for its stirring depiction of a young Māori girl leading her people through the brutality of colonial conflict in 1864. The film also added Images and Sound Best Original Score: Feature to its triumphs.
THE GONE (S2) DOMINATES TV DRAMA
Crime thriller The Gone continued its winning streak with its second season, collecting four major awards, including:
- NZ On Air Best Drama Series
- Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama Series
Building on the momentum of its award-winning first season, The Gone once again asserted itself as a heavyweight of New Zealand television drama.
TVNZ NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS STAND TALL
TVNZ continued its long-standing legacy of excellence with:
- One News winning Best News Coverage for its moving reportage of the Kiingitanga Tangihanga
- The Hui taking home Best Current Affairs Programme
- Indira Stewart named Reporter of the Year
- John Campbell recognised as Best Presenter: News & Current Affairs
A powerhouse showing from Aotearoa’s national broadcaster.
CELEBRATING MĀORI STORYTELLING
Māori-led programming shone with pride, mana, and immense creative strength across the night:
- Homesteads (S2) won Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme, with Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne honoured for her work.
- Ruamata: It’s More Than Hockey 2 claimed Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme, celebrating the vibrant storytelling of Kereama Wright, Mahanga Pihama, Riria Morgan, Arthur Rasmussen and Matua Houltham.
OUTSTANDING ACTING HONOURS
Acting excellence was in full force across the night with major wins for both film and television:
Series Winners
- Best Actress in a Series: Antonia Prebble (Double Parked S2)
- Best Supporting Actress in a Series: Kura Forrester (Double Parked S2)
- Best Actor in a Series: Stephen Lovatt (Shortland Street)
- Best Supporting Actor in a Series: Peter Hambleton (Happiness)
Feature Winners
Tinā dominated the women’s feature categories:
- Best Actress in a Feature: Anapela Polata’ivao
- Best Supporting Actress in a Feature: Antonia Eaton
Meanwhile, The Rule of Jenny Pen swept the men’s feature acting awards:
- Best Actor in a Feature: John Lithgow
- Best Supporting Actor in a Feature: George Henare
A stellar lineup showcasing Aotearoa’s acting elite.
SCREEN PERSONALITY & LIFETIME CELEBRATIONS
The only public-voted award, Screen Personality of the Year, went to beloved Te Karere host Scotty Morrison—a crowd favourite who received huge applause.
An emotional peak of the evening saw internationally acclaimed actor Sir Sam Neill KNZM OBE receive the 2025 Screen Legend Award. A standing ovation honoured his extraordinary global career and immense contribution to New Zealand’s film and television identity.
A YEAR PROPELLED BY PUBLIC INVESTMENT & INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING
Across a massive 56 judged categories and one public award, TVNZ led the tally with 19 wins, followed by Three/ThreeNow, Whakaata Māori, SKY, Stuff, RNZ and The Spinoff; all proudly contributing to an industry firing on all creative cylinders.
Public funding played a pivotal role, with NZ On Air-supported content earning 26 awards, alongside major wins for productions backed by Te Māngai Pāho and the New Zealand Film Commission, which supported all but one of the films honoured on the night.
A CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY, CULTURE & COURAGE
The 2025 New Zealand Screen Awards were a reminder of just how bold, diverse, and dynamic Aotearoa’s screen storytelling has become. From historical epics to powerhouse dramas, from Māori language programming to cutting-edge genre work, this year’s honourees represent a nation whose creative industries continue to rise, innovate, and inspire.
Aotearoa New Zealand storytelling is thriving — and if 2025 is anything to go by, the future is looking brighter, bolder, and more cinematic than ever.
See the full list of winners here.
Source/Image: The Public Good
