WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) is thrilled to announce the winners in the 2024 NZEA New Zealand Event Awards. With 69 finalists across 17 categories, this year's awards celebrate the innovation, creativity, and resilience of New Zealand's event industry. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists! 

The 2024 Awards Gala Dinner took place in at the Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North on Tuesday 27 August 2024 in conjunction with the Eventing the Future Conference. 

And the winners are…

Best Emerging Industry Professional 2024 – Proudly sponsored by NZICC  

Aaron Smith, University of Canterbury & Sub180 Entertainment  

Karli Dungey, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd  

 

Best Established Industry Professional 2024  

Ariki Tibble, Mountain Bike Events Ltd \ Crankworx Rotorua  

Craig Edwards   

Karena Finnie, ChristchurchNZ  

Rosaria Ferguson, Boma / Freelance  

Steve Dean, The Eventworks Group Ltd  

 

Best Arts, Cultural or Heritage Event 2024  

Anthony Harper Summer Theatre, Christchurch City Council   

Auckland Arts Festival 2024 (AKLFEST 2024), The Auckland Festival Trust 

Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival 2023, Ōpōtiki District Council - isite & Events Team   

Waitangi Day 2024, Porirua City

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2024, Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust  

 

Best Business Event 2024 – Proudly sponsored by Cvent  

ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2024, Rí Rá Events & Ashburton District Council 

Central Districts Field Days 2024, Stuff 

Fieldays 2023, New Zealand National Fieldays Society  

The E Tipu IFAMA 2023 World Conference, Venues Ōtautahi and Boma   

Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2023, Avenues Event Management and Water New Zealand 

Woolworths NZ Experience 2023, Uno Loco 

  

Best Community or Not-for-profit Event 2024 (under 3000 participants)  

Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival 2023, Ōpōtiki District Council - isite & Events Team  

RealNZ Conservation Ball - Bringing the Kākāriki karaka back to Fiordland, RealNZ  

The Pink Ribbon Winter Ball 2023, Whanganui Venues & Events, Kristy Whittington and Loren Symes   

The Shepherdess Muster, Shepherdess   

 

Best Community or Not-for-profit Event 2024 (over 3000 participants)  

150th Commemoration of Hastings Township, Hastings District Council 

Takapuna Winter Lights, Takapuna Beach Business Association 

Trust Horizon Light Up Whakatāne, Whakatāne District Council 

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2024, Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust  

 

Best Food, Beverage or Lifestyle Event 2024 - Proudly sponsored by AF Drinks  

Flavours of Plenty Festival, Tourism Bay of Plenty  

Local Wild Food Festival, Whakatāne District Council  

Taste Hastings, Hastings District Council  

The Auckland Food Show, XPO Exhibitions  

The Twelfth Hour Gin Experience, Rí Rá Events   

 

Best Local Government Event 2024 - Proudly sponsored by Coast Group  

ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2024, Ashburton District Council & Rí Rá Events  

Local Wild Food Festival, Whakatāne District Council  

Taste Hastings, Hastings District Council  

TSB Festival of Lights Winter Pop Up, New Plymouth District Council 

Waitangi Day 2024, Porirua City  

Congratulations to all our finalists

Best Major or Mega Event 2024 - proudly sponsored by Congress Rental

ASB Classic 2024, Tennis Auckland  

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, New Zealand Football   

 

Best Music Event 2024 – Proudly sponsored by APRA  

Electric Avenue, Team Event  

Mana Moana, Live Nation, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Signature Choir

 

Best Sports Event 2024 – Proudly sponsored by Ticketek  

A Festival of Rugby - double header Super Rugby games for Chiefs Manawa & Gallagher Chiefs,
The Chiefs Rugby Club supported by H3 Group and Hobbiton Movie Tours 

ASB Classic 2024, Tennis Auckland  

Gymnastics New Zealand Championships, Gymnastics New Zealand   

The NZ MTB Rally  

Ultimate Athlete  

 

Best Marketing or Creative 2024 – Proudly sponsored by Phantom Billstickers  

Flavours of Plenty Festival, Tourism Bay of Plenty  

House of Hilux x Fieldays 2023, Toyota New Zealand, Spur, Saatchi & Saatchi  

One Stop Shop   

ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, SailGP & ChristchurchNZ

Te Awa - Foodstuffs Partnership Awards, Season Event Design  

 

Best Supplier 2024 – proudly sponsored by NZME  

KOJO for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023   

NW Group for the Deloitte Top 200 Awards  

Red Badge Group for 2024 Electric Avenue Festival  

Spur for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 

The Event Works Group for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023   

 

Best Technology Innovation 2024  - proudly sponsored by Streamliner

iTICKET NZ for Toast Martinborough 2023  

ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix - Attentis Technology fire detection network, Christchurch City Council Smart Christchurch  

World First Drift Car Hydrogen Engine, Super Sprint Motor Sport NZ Championship 2024 and ChristchurchNZ   

 

Best Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative 2024 – Proudly sponsored by Ticketmaster  

Crankworx Rotorua 2024  

Rainbow Games 2024, Pacific Rainbow Games Charitable Trust  

Te Matarau Wānanga, Stuff Events  

 

Best Sustainability Initiative 2024  

Rad Agency: Kate Radcliffe-Reid and Millie Taylor  

SafeGuard Barriers  

Whitianga Oceans Festival, Whitianga Scallop Festival Inc. 

 

Best Venue 2024 – Proudly supported by EVANZ  

Central Energy Trust Arena for ENZED Superstock Teams Champs  

Eden Park  

Wellington Regional Stadium for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023  

Whanganui Venues & Events for International Brain Injury Conference 2024  

Whanganui Venues & Events for the Pink Ribbon Ball  

Meet the Judges

  • Amy McNicol

    Events & Sponsorship Professional

  • Andrea Nelson

    Gymnastics NZ

  • Anna Magdalinos

    Eventfinda

  • Arthur Klap

    Leader in Sports Governance

  • Claire Beard

  • David Inns

  • Emily Travers

    NZME

  • Eric Ngan

    Auckland Council

  • Jane Blackmore

    Brand Magic

  • Jason Dawson

    Air New Zealand

  • Mere Rangihuna (nee Ngawati)

    Ngāti Hine, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Manu, Te Uri-o-Hau
    Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation

  • Nikki Streater

    General Manager at Satellite Media

  • Richard Howarth

    Honoco

  • Shane Harmon

  • Shane Vuletich

    Fresh Info