Media Releases

International Recognition for Radio New Zealand

Released at 4:27 pm on 28 September 2011

Radio New Zealand's quality public service broadcasting, long recognised by New Zealand audiences, has once again been acknowledged by experts from the tough and very competitive international broadcasting industry.

A distinguished panel of international judges has chosen three Radio New Zealand entries as category finalists for the 2011 Asia -Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Prizes.

The announcement follows the recent release of independent audience research results from Nielsen Media showing that Radio New Zealand National was the most popular station in this country for live radio listening.

The influential ABU judges, representing broadcasters throughout the Pacific and Asia, receive hundreds of entries each year as they search for the very best TV and radio programming in the region. Radio New Zealand has won several categories in the past, including best drama and best documentary, but this year is unprecedented with all three submissions making it to the competition finals. The Radio New Zealand finalists are in the Documentary, Drama and News categories:

Documentary

Broken River, produced by Simon Morton This programme, made in the days after the Christchurch earthquake in February, traces a journey made by Simon Morton (presenter of the consumer affairs programme This Way Up) on bicycle across Christchurch in a single day, following the course of the Avon River to the sea. It features a remarkable mix of eye witness account, and interviews with the many people Simon encountered.

Drama

The 53rd Victim, produced by Jason Te Kare Fifty-two people lost their lives in the 2005 London bombings. Kiwi Rachel Brooke-Taylor eventually became the 53rd victim. Although initially she was hailed as a heroine for helping a severely injured man trapped on one of the wrecked buses, her claim to be a doctor unravelled under media scrutiny. This absorbing play, by Pip Hall, traces the real-life events of the time.

News

Coverage of the February earthquake in Christchurch The days and weeks of rolling coverage of the February earthquake had to be compressed into ten minutes of audio reflecting the unfolding scale of the disaster, and the extraordinary team effort put into covering the story, often under some duress.

The winners of the 2011 ABU Prizes will be announced at the ABU General Assembly in Delhi on 7th November.

For further information: Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Ends