The inaugural NZ Podcast Awards has been launched on Friday.

'The New Zealand Podcast Awards has been set up to recognise the amazing work done by independent and professional Kiwi podcast producers across the country and abroad,” says a New Zealand Podcast Awards spokesperson.

'Podcasting is growing at such a fast rate in New Zealand; it seems only right that it should have its own industry awards programme.”

The daily reach of podcasts in New Zealand in 2020 was 12 per cent, up from 7 per cent in 2018, according to NZ on Air.

The inaugural New Zealand Podcast Awards launches with 12 categories, including a Listeners' Choice award.

'Judging will be performed by an incredible line-up of digital media industry leaders from New Zealand and around the world, including some of the earliest AU/NZ employees of Google, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify, as well as entertainment powerhouse, CAA,” says a New Zealand Podcast Awards spokesperson.

The Awards have been created as an independent and neutral platform to support the entire podcasting industry in New Zealand, from large publisher and radio networks through to emerging and established independent podcasts.

'These awards are for the Kiwi podcasting community. We're here to promote your shows, help you reach new listeners, reward quality content and celebrate our growing industry,” says co-founder of the New Zealand Podcast Awards Richard North.

'The New Zealand Podcast Awards will be an annual event, which we are hoping to grow over the coming years alongside the many fantastic Kiwi podcasts and producers both here and abroad.”

The 2021 New Zealand Podcast Awards is being supported by a number of leading media organisations and agencies, with Rova on board as Principal Media Partner.

'As podcast creators and superfans we think it's incredibly important to celebrate our local and independent voices, so when Rova was asked to support the first NZ Podcast Awards, it was a no brainer,” says Rova Content Director Richie Culph.

The 2021 New Zealand Podcast Awards are now open for nominations from the public and podcast producers until September 1 at https://www.nzpodcastawards.com/.

Shortlisted podcasts will be invited to enter their final submissions by October 6. Voting for the Listeners' Choice Award will open on October 7 and all winners will be announced on November 7.

Key dates for the 2021 New Zealand Podcast Awards are as follows:

Links:

Website: www.nzpodcastawards.com

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nzpodcastawards/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nzpodcastawards@nzpodcastawards