More awards for Rotorua Daily Post

Advertising Manager Janine Davy accepts her award from APN NZ CEO Martin Simons.

The Rotorua Daily Post has done it again - scooping more big awards for being the best in the business.

Your local newspaper won seven major awards and three highly commendeds at this week's APN Awards at Wairakei Resort in Taupo. The awards ceremony is an annual event recognising the best performances among APN regional media sites across the country.

Advertising manager Janine Davy backed up last year's win picking up Advertising Manager of the Year and her team won an award for its Red Stag Timber business profile as well as the Top of the Rankings award.

Ben Fraser accepts his award from Group Editor Laura Franklin.

The judges said Mrs Davy had a stellar performance in 2013. They said she strongly believed in the value of the Rotorua Daily Post for clients.

Photographer Ben Fraser was named Photographer of the Year, with Stephen Parker runner up.

The judges said Mr Fraser's portfolio was an "absolute standout" with his images "packed with emotion and strongly composed". One of his entries was described as "unforgettable".

Image 1 of 4: 200613bf17 Sunset Primary School pupils are right behind Red Socks Day 2013. Keil Raethel (left), 8, Letitia Hokianga, 7, Te Aurere Reweti, 9, Tangaroa Wall-Macalister, 5, and Kaia Rathael, 7. 2

This website, www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz, was named the best with judges saying the site features extra sections with lots of interactive polls, galleries and regular videos. "An outstanding newsroom culture sees everyone willing and able to load content and to experiment with ways to engage readers on the site," the judges said.

Former staff member Anita Moran was named Digital Innovator of the Year for her website work for the Rotorua Daily Post and the Bay of Plenty Times, and Alison King was highly commended.

The Rotorua Daily Post was runner up in the Community Involvement category for the "the sheer number of community causes and events in which they are involved". The judges said "It seems that very little happens in this town without the Rotorua Daily Post being part of it and their record Christmas appeal total rivalled the funds gathered by larger and wealthier communities".

The editorial team picked up the APNZ Achiever Award for the third year in a row, features and projects manager Maureen Matthews was one of five joint winners/highly commendeds in the General Manager's Overall Award for Excellence category, and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait was highly commended in the Columnist of the Year category.

The Rotorua Daily Post's sister newspaper, Taupo Weekender/Turangi Chronicle was also among the winners. Gaye Conway won Community Newspaper Sales Manager of the Year, the advertising team won Top of the Rankings and Laurilee McMichael was named runner up in the Community Reporter of the Year.

General manager David McKenzie said the awards were a credit to the hard-working team and backed up the strong performance at last year's event.

"The team we have here go the extra mile to produce a quality newspaper for readers and advertisers."

Editor Kim Gillespie said he was excited and proud to see the hard work from his team recognised by the judges. "Our news team is constantly raising the bar in local journalism, and while we don't do it to win awards, we really appreciate the recognition."

Advertising Manager Janine Davy said the awards showed consistency of services from a dedicated team who worked hard to know their clients and their businesses.

Mrs Davy said her award for Advertising Manager of the Year could only be achieved with a strong and focused team behind her.