For the second time in three years the Northland Age has been named APN NZ's best community newspaper, this time by what the judges described as a handsome margin.
The Age, which was purchased by APN in 2009, won the inaugural award in 2010, and scored again for 2012 at the annual conference in Auckland last week.
It also maintained its grip on the best columnist title, won by Sandy Myhre, the one-woman-band who produces Focus magazine every month.
"Good humour is hard to find in most newspapers, but in Sandy Myhre and her alter ego, Sara Dinnen, the Northland Age has a very witty writer," the judges said.
"Sandy's columns in the motoring section make strong, sometimes acerbic, observations about sexist and patronising attitudes in the motoring industry. Sara Dinnen ... proves women can do comedy, no better exemplified than by her description of moving house - and the thrill of meeting some good-looking tradesmen."
The judges for the premier award, Community Newspaper of the Year, were looking for the newspaper that had best served its readers in 2012, a paper with 'terrific reporting, excellent design, passion for its readers, effective newsroom management and clever growth initiatives.'
"This paper is a tremendous read; no wonder it's the only community title in APN still to carry a cover price," they said.
"The Age covers a vast area with a very small staff, and the number, breadth and quality of news stories in each issue is quite extraordinary.
"Unlike many community papers it doesn't rely on processing PR puffery and calling it news, or fill its pages with endless charity appeals which are boring to almost everybody but those immediately involved.
"Among the Age's many strengths are a high story count driven by great use of briefs, quality editorials expressing a clear point of view, a broad range of local columns, more letters than most of APN's dailies and decent sports coverage.
"Winner by a handsome margin."
It was a great night for the Northern Publishing Company, the Northern Advocate making it a double by winning the Daily of the Year title, along with Digital Innovator of the Year - editorial (Kristin Edge), Daily Photographer of the Year (Michael Cunningham), and Website of the Year.
Yuan Zhang was runner-up to the Sales Person of the Year, and the paper was highly commended for its community involvement, while Advocate-based group features editor Colleen Thorpe won the Chief Operating Officer's Award for Excellence.