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May 23, 2026 – New Zealand –
Independent digital outlet The Spinoff emerged as one of the major winners at the 2026 New Zealand Media Awards, taking home the award for Best News, Current Affairs or Specialist Publication during the annual ceremony in Auckland. The recognition marked another significant achievement for the online publication as New Zealand’s media industry gathered to celebrate journalism, reporting, and digital storytelling across multiple categories.
Judges praised The Spinoff for what they described as its strong journalism, multi-platform reporting, audience engagement, and distinctive editorial voice. According to comments released during the awards, the judges said the publication had established itself as one of New Zealand’s most influential modern media platforms through a combination of current affairs coverage, cultural reporting, political analysis, podcasts, and digital storytelling.
The New Zealand Media Awards, formerly known as the Voyager Media Awards, are organized by the News Publishers’ Association and recognize excellence across print, digital, broadcast, and investigative journalism. The 2026 awards ceremony took place in Auckland and featured winners from major media organizations, including TVNZ, RNZ, NZME, Stuff, and independent publications.
The Spinoff’s recognition came during a year of continued transformation and financial pressure across New Zealand’s media industry. The outlet has increasingly expanded beyond entertainment and cultural coverage into political reporting, investigative journalism, international affairs, and subscription-based digital publishing. The publication also recently recruited veteran journalist Anna Fifield to lead its World Bulletin coverage.
Other major winners at the awards included journalists and broadcasters recognized for political reporting, crime coverage, podcasts, and television journalism. Former TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman won Political Journalist of the Year despite recent controversy surrounding her resignation earlier this month.
The awards also took place amid broader debate surrounding the future of journalism in New Zealand. Earlier this year, organizers removed Voyager as the naming sponsor of the awards following controversy linked to social media comments by the company’s founder. The event subsequently reverted to the title “New Zealand Media Awards.”
Online discussions following the ceremony reflected mixed reactions from audiences and journalists, with supporters praising independent media success stories while critics debated the direction of New Zealand journalism and the growing influence of digital-first publications.
Reference –
https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/23-05-2026/the-spinoff-wins-at-media-awards
