Tauranga radio host Brian Kelly honoured in NZ sports journalism awards

Coast radio host Brian Kelly, known as BK, has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award at this year's Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards. Photo / Andrew Warner

Brian Kelly, or BK as most people know him, is first to admit he's living the dream.

And the Tauranga Coast breakfast radio host has now had his dream made even more surreal - Kelly has this week been named a life member of the New Zealand Sports Journalism Awards.

The prestigious honour was given to Kelly during the Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards in Auckland on Wednesday.

"The reason I was there was I was presenting an award, the Garry Frew Memorial Trophy award ... I did that then sat down to have my dinner and lo and behold, my name was read out," Kelly said.

"It was a surprise. But what made it special was my son was there. He's now working in radio at Radio Sport as a producer. It was a pretty proud moment."

Kelly hosts Tauranga and Coromandel's Coast breakfast show after spending six years hosting Coast in Auckland. Prior to that Kelly was the main voice of breakfast radio in Tauranga for more than three decades.

"It's nice to be recognised for the work I've done over the past 45-plus years."

Over the years Kelly has developed a strong passion for sports journalism, especially if it took him close to motorsport.

Kelly, who has a background in New Zealand Rally, has covered or been involved in most major motorsport events in Zealand and interviewed most of the code's biggest athletes.

"Funnily enough, the person who first got me started in motorsport was one of the organisers of the awards. He was my first boss," Kelly said.

The achievement means Kelly joins a prestigious list of the nation's finest sports journalists, including Keith Quinn and the late TP McLean.

"I didn't go out to win an award. I just love doing what I do. I get to play music and talk sport," Kelly said.

"I'm living the dream. I'm lucky really, it's like I've never worked a day in my life."

NZME Bay of Plenty general manager Greg Murphy said Kelly was a true professional and the award was "well-deserved recognition for someone who has been in broadcasting his entire career".

"But he's also respected in many aspects of broadcasting - locally and also nationally. Obviously, this award is related to sport but it falls in line with everything that BK has done in his career."