"He is a hugely talented photographer who consistently provides eye-catching photographs for our paper and website," he said.
Mr Parker is no stranger to accolades. Last year he snapped up Photographer of the Year as well as winning Best Portrait and Best Sports Photo at New Zealand's Canon Media Awards.
In 2015, at the Panpa awards, he won the best sports photograph for Dive, featuring Bianca Donelly and was a finalist in the portrait category for the Canon Media Awards.
The previous year he was a Panpa finalist in three regional categories - news, sport and portrait.
He was named Senior Press Photographer of the Year in 2013.
Entries into the Panpa awards were submitted by major daily and weekend papers from throughout Australia and New Zealand, and Asia-Pacific. The award ceremony was held in Sydney.
How Para-Swimmer was shot
My initial idea for shooting para-swimmer Siobhan Terry underwater at Rotorua's Aquatic Centre wasn't coming together.
The lighting set-up seemed about right, with one blue light behind Siobhan reflected upwards and a second flash out of the pool lighting up her face.
But my concept of her standing on the bottom of the pool needed rethinking.
Thankfully Siobhan suggested diving in and swimming through the frame. After a couple of attempts it all worked out, the bubbles behaved themselves and Siobhan was perfect - looking towards the pool surface with a great smile.
- Stephen Parker
