The Hits' Awards

The Hits has a strong track record of success at the New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards 🏆

These awards recognise and celebrate the personalities, creativity, and behind-the-scenes legends who make The Hits what it is.

From award-winning breakfast radio to standout promotions, community campaigns, and marketing moments that get people talking. The Hits is heard right across Aotearoa. From Callum and P's Dunedin Breakfast taking out top breakfast honours, to heartwarming community campaigns like KidsCanBall, and inventive activations like the Golden Teabag Tickets with Dilmah. The Hits is your home of warm, feel-good radio done right.

Take a scroll through our Radio Awards wins below from our latest trophies right back to where it all started.

2026 Awards

• Best Local Music Breakfast Show or Host: The Hits Dunedin Breakfast with Callum and P - Patrina Roche, Callum Procter, Harriett Mouat, Matt Anderson
• Best Client Promotion/Activation: The Hits Golden Teabag Tickets with Dilmah -  Jono Pryor, Ben Boyce, Jessie Matheson, Megan Papas, Harriett Mouat, 
  Ashlee Brice, Alastair Boyes, Ellie Harwood, Ben Sullivan, David Lister  
• Best Single Market Station Promotion: P's Middle Age Mama Cheerleaders - Patrina Roche, Callum Procter, Destiny Carvell, Alana Jamieson, Aleisha 
  Anderson, Clare Bulmer, Julie Curphey, Nicola Darling, Becs Adlam, Trudie 
  Evans, Claudia Hurley,  Rochelle Lee, Michelle Churchman, Karen 
  Bensemann  

2025 Awards 

• Best Client Promotion/Activation: ANZ Donation Station, Nikki Flint, Mike McClung, ZM, Radio Hauraki, The Hits, Coast & Flava Content Teams, Rob Dickey, Corinna Homer, NZME
• Best Community Campaign: The Hits KidsCanBall - Jono Pryor, Ben Boyce, Megan Papas, Tayla Montoya, Larissa O'Reilly, Matt Anderson, Harriett Whiting, Grace Hilliam, Alastair Boyes, The Hits 
• Best Local Music Host: Hayley Bath, The Hits Auckland
• Best Marketing Campaign: The Hits Cash'n'Car Campaign - Jennifer Pryor, Gemma Vovchenko, Xanthe Williams, Jono Pryor, Poppy Higgins, Laura Christie, Christian Goeffic, Joshua Hubbard, Tom Dyton, Sasha Sadlier, Toby Simson, John Phillips, Susan Bridges, Caitlin Hurring, Ben Boyce, Aishia Healey, Helen Scott, Jordan Whiu, The Hits

2024 Awards 

• Best Commercial Campaign: Confinement Escape Rooms Taupo - Find Out, Lucas Hogan, Wendy Lacey, Bridie Thomson, Rew Shearer, The Hits Taupo

2023 Awards

• Best Client Promotion/Activation: The Hits Jono & Ben's $10,000 Chip Pic with Heartland Chips, Harriett Whiting, Ben Humphrey, Jono Pryor, Ben Boyce, Joel Harrison, Alastair Boyes, Jordan Whiu, Tom Dyton, Joshua Hubbard, The Hits Network
• Best Community Campaign: Fill The Bus, Paul Hickey, Hamish Gleeson, The Hits Rotorua
• Best Marketing Campaign: Jono & Ben Kids Call the Shots, Jacqui Davis, Gemma Vovchenko, Xanthe Williams, Emily Hancox, Joseph Senior, Jono Pryor, Ben Boyce, The Hits Network
• Best New Broadcaster - On Air: Meg Wyatt, ZM & The Hits

2022 Awards

• Best Client Promotion/Activation: Jono & Ben's Battery Operated Torch Tour with The Warehouse, Harriett Whiting, Danielle Tolich, Ben Boyce, Jono Pryor, Ben Humphrey, Margaret Hawker, Gareth McDonald, Ben Sullivan, Sarah De Villiers, Jessica Boell, Anthony Plant, The Hits Network
• Best Local Music Host: Dave Nicholas, The Hits Auckland

2021 Awards 

• Best Music Breakfast Show - Local: Callum & P, Callum Procter, Patrina Roche, The Hits Dunedin
• Best Music Host - Local: Will Johnston, The Hits Bay of Plenty
• Best New Broadcaster - Off-Air: Alex Lansdown, The Hits Network
• The Blackie: The Siri Prank, Jono Pryor, Ben Boyce, Ben Humphrey, Juliet Wrathall, Heidi Roberts, Max Middleton, Aaron Watkinson, Todd Campbell, Allan George, Josh Todd, Annie Pryor, John Pryor. The Hits Network

2020 Awards 

• Best Music Breakfast Show - Local: Callum & P, Callum Procter, Patrina Roche, The Hits Dunedin/Southland
• Best Music Host - Local: Will Johnston, The Hits Tauranga
• Best New Broadcaster - Off-Air: Juliet Wrathall, The Hits

2019 Awards

• Best Music Breakfast Show - Non Network: Callum & P, Callum Procter, Patrina Roche, The Hits Dunedin & Southland
• Best Music Non-Breakfast Host - Non-Network: Dave Nicholas, The Hits Auckland
• Best Music Non-Breakfast Host - Non-Network: Will Johnston, The Hits Tauranga

2018 Awards 

• Best Community Campaign: Pledge for Plunket, Ben Humphrey, Jenny Mulligan, Todd Campbell, Laura Canpbell, Celia Whitley, The Hits

2017 Awards 

• Best Music Breakfast Show - Single Market: The Hits Dunedin Breakfast with Callum and P - Callum Procter, Patrina Roche, The Hits Dunedin

2016 Awards 

• Best Client Activation: Noel Leeming “The Spatula”, Kate Britten, Kate Jones, Lucy Winefield, Trent Hall, Will Johnston, The Hits Bay of Plenty
• Best Community Campaign: NZBCF Pink Star Walk - Laura Smith, James Powell, Ben Humphrey, The Hits Network

2015 Awards 

• Best Community Campaign: The Hits Toy Run, Matt Davy, Blair Dowling, Emma Langman, The Hits, Waikato, NZME
• Best Music Breakfast Show - Single Surveyed Market: Callum & P In The Morning - Callum Procter & Patrina Roche, The Hits, Dunedin, NZME

2014 awards 

• Best Commercial Campaign - Effectiveness: They Can Find You, Scott Armstrong, ZB, Sports, Classic Hits - West Coast, The Radio Network
• Best Jingle or Jingle Package: BUSY, Ronnie Mackie, ZB, Radio Sport, Coast, Classic Hits - Taranaki, The Radio Network
• Best Network Radio Station Promotion: Jase & Daves Bumper Boat Bonanza, Ben Humphrey, Leanne Hutchinson, Jason Winstanley, Jason Gunn, Dave Fitzgerald, Sharon Amataiti, Classic Hits, Network, The Radio Network
• Best Single Market Radio Station Promotion: Living With AJ, Chloe & Andy Ellis, Kally Gallop, Hayley Gillespie, Tim Dyer, AJ Funnell, Chloe Emirali, Andrew Ellis, Classic Hits, Christchurch, The Radio Network

2013 Awards

• Best Jingle or Jingle Package: Baby On The Move, Gareth Curtis & Neil Jenkins, Newstalk ZB & Classic Hits, Stooges Studio, The Radio Network
• Best Music Breakfast Show - Regional: Patrina Roche & Callum Procter, Callum & P, Classic Hits, Dunedin, The Radio Network
• Best Music Host or Hosts - Provincial: Jordan Brannigan, Jordan Brannigan in the morning, Classic Hits, Wairarapa, The Radio Network
• Best New Broadcaster - Air Personality: Jordan Brannigan, Classic Hits, Nelson, The Radio Network
• Best New Broadcaster - Overall Winner: Jordan Brannigan, Classic Hits, Nelson, The Radio Network
• One-Off Community Campaign: Fill The Bus for Ronald McDonald House, Kally Gallop, Classic Hits, Christchurch, The Radio Network

2012 Awards

• Best Campaign - Effectiveness: Hitachi Heat Pumps, Ronnie Mackie & Zoe Nash, NTZB/Classic Hits/ZM/Hauraki, Nationwide, TRN
• Best Music Breakfast Show - Regional: Mark Bunting & Justine Allen, Bunty and Justine in the Morning, Classic Hits 98.6 Waikato, The Radio Network

2011 Awards

• Best Music Breakfast Show - Provincial: Phill Hooper, Harvey Norman Classic Breakfast, Classic Hits Ashburton, TRN
• Commercial Production: James Irwin, Boots N All, Classic Hits, ZM, Hauraki - Blenheim Marlborough, TRN

2010 Awards

• Best Music Breakfast Show – Regional: Mark Bunting, Bunting in the Morning, Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM Waikato

2009 Awards: 

• Best Music Breakfast Show – Regional: Mark Bunting, Chris Lloyd & Nick Trott, Bunting in the Morning, Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM Hamilton
• Best Music Host or Hosts – Provincial: Richard Dryden, Richard Dryden For Breakfast, Classic Hits 90.9 ZGFM Gisborne
• Best New Broadcaster: Sarah van der Kley, Classic Hits Rotorua

2008 Awards

• Best Music Breakfast Host or Hosts - Regional: Mark Bunting, Bunting in the Morning, Classic Hits Waikato
• Best On-Air Team or Individual Air Personality - Provincial: Richard Dryden, Richard Dryden for Breakfast, Classic Hits Gisborne

2007 Awards 

• Best Music Breakfast Host or Hosts - Regional: Kent & Bundy’s Classic Breakfast – Classic Hits Nelson

2006 Awards 

• Best Non-Breakfast Host or Hosts - Metropolitan: Murray Lindsay – Classic Hits 97.4 FM
• Best Music Breakfast Host or Hosts - Regional: Kent & Bundy’s Classic Breakfast – Classic Hits Nelson

2005 Awards 

• Best On-Air Team or Individual Air Personality - Provincial: Trev Hill’s Classic Breakfast – Classic Hits 90.1 Wairarapa FM
• Metropolitan: Auckland’s Classic Hits 97.4FM – Operations Manager & Programme Director, Dallas Gurney

2004 Awards 

• Best Music & Entertainment Teams or Individual Breakfast Air Personality - Regional: Dave Fitzgerald & Patrina Roche – Dunedin’s Classic Hits 89.4
• Best New Broadcaster: Kerryn-Maree Benefield – Waitaki’s Classic Hits 98.4FM
• Best Non-Breakfast Music Personality - Metropolitan: Mark Bunting – Classic Hits Network
• Metropolitan: Auckland’s Classic Hits 97.4FM – Operations Manager & Programme Director, Dallas Gurney
• Programmer of the Year: Dallas Gurney – Classic Hits 97.4 & Easy Listening i98.2FM Auckland
• Regional: Classic Hits 98.8 ZAFM, Invercargill – General Manager Lee Piper

2003 Awards 

• Best On-Air Team, Individual Air Personality, Talk Host or Interviwer – Provincial: Kent Robertson & Craig ‘Bundy’ Hanford, Classic Hits, Nelson
• Best Promo/Image Trailer: Secret Sound Auditions, Dallas Gurney (Writer), Phil Yule (Recording Engineer/Producer), John Sweetman (Presenter), Classic Hits Network
• Best Sportsreader: Lee Piper (Presenter), Classic Hits 98.8 Zafm

2002 Awards

• Best NZ Produced Music Feature: George Harrison Tribute, Murray Lindsay (Presenter), Jason Stanley (Producer) John Budge (Researcher), Classic Hits 97.4, Auckland
• Best On-Air Team, Individual Air Personality, Talk Host or Interviwer – Regional: Mark Bunting (Personality), Jenni Brown (On-Air Voice), Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM
• Best Promo/Image Trailer: Rocktober Promo, Andrew Sepie (Writer/Voice/ Producer/Recording Engineer), John Sweetman, Ian Turner (Voices), Classic Hits 98FM, Christchurch
• Outstanding Contribution to Radio: John ‘Boggy’ McDowell (Personality), Classic Hits 98.8 ZAFM, Southland
• Station of the Year – Regional: Lee Piper (General Manager), Classic Hits 98.8 ZAFM, Southland

2001 Awards

• Best On-Air Team, Individual Air Personality, Talk Host or Interviwer – Regional: Mark Bunting, Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM

1999 Awards 

• Best On-Air Team, Individual Air Personality, Talk Host or Interviwer – Provincial: Phil Hawes & Shelley Venning, Classic Hits 90FM, Nelson