Over 100 print industry professionals have joined New Zealand Printer Magazine and Print NZ teams in celebrating talent from across all verticals of the printing market during the 2023 People in Print Awards and Rising Star Awards event in Auckland.

This year’s edition welcomed one of the leading digital printing and production technology manufacturers, Durst, for the first time as the Platinum Sponsor. Represented in New Zealand by Aarque, the company has been the Platinum Sponsor of the prestigious ProPrint Awards organised by New Zealand Printer Magazine’s sister publication ProPrint, across Tasman for the last two years. Durst has also renewed its sponsorship of the ProPrint Awards for 2023. 

“It is my pleasure to support the printing industry in New Zealand and to celebrate the incredible talent from across the industry,” said Matt Ashman, managing director of Durst Oceania. “We are here to honour those working in management as well as all the incredible people who power our industry, usually working behind the scenes. We are committed to the printing industry in the region, and we are proud to be able to celebrate the industry talent together this evening.”

Brian Moore, New Zealand Printer Magazine publisher, said: “We are excited to welcome Durst as Platinum Sponsor for the Awards. The other confirmed sponsors include Currie Group, Cyber, Konica Minolta, Starleaton and Wholesale Print. The support from suppliers for the Awards reflects their commitment to the industry, and we are grateful for their readiness to sponsor the event. “

As in previous years, readers, printers and suppliers nominated the industry professionals for achieving excellence in 2022 in any number of areas, including their work in a particular field of the industry, such as prepress, offset, digital, finishing, packaging, signage, design or those who worked for the community or contributed to sustainability and the environment.

Bruce Craig, editor of New Zealand Printer magazine, said: “We received nominations from across the industry, from those in management and at the coalface. This was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the often unsung heroes of our industry, from the shop floor to the front office and beyond.”

Encouraging newcomers and those beginning to make their mark, the Rising Star Awards remind us that the industry grows stronger and more resilient with a continuous injection of new blood and fresh ideas. Previous recipients of the Rising Star Awards are now carving their path through their respective industry sectors with enthusiasm and energy. 

“It is great to see how businesses throughout the sector are able to grow through their emerging talent,” said Craig. “Fresh ideas can help guide your business in a new direction and create revenue streams you haven’t previously considered. We see many Rising Stars helping to expand the boundaries for the companies they work for, and we see others branching out on their own.” 

The event was hosted by Craig and PrintNZ’s chief executive Ruth Cobb and introduced James Wells, managing director and Piotr Wnuk, news editor.

“Once again, we are pleased to support the People In Print and Rising Star Awards. Recognising members of our industry that have made significant contributions during 2022 gives us a chance to appreciate those who go above and beyond. We are happy to celebrate their achievements as we take the time to acknowledge them,” Cobb said.

The complete list of this year’s winners is listed below. Please follow our LinkedIn page for more event updates, pictures and winners’ profiles. 

People in Print Awards:

  • David Atkins, SCG
  • Ricky Baker, Stuff
  • Bridget Batchelor, Caxton Design & Print Excellence
  • Aidan Bennett, Benefitz
  • Sean Bennetts, Blue Star Collard
  • Soni Bhavik, Soni Design
  • Sam Blenkiron, Mirage Visual
  • Robin Bowkett, Webstar
  • Jonny Broderick, Broderick Print & Design
  • Jacqui Buckton-Day, Goldfields Print & Packaging 
  • Mark Bult, Torque Digital
  • Aaron Buist, Beacon Media Group
  • Raja Chakrabarti, Allied Press
  • Tony Cheetham, Labelshop
  • Jill Cowling, Blue Star Group
  • Greg Daniel, PrintLounge
  • Christina Drummond, Windmill Press
  • James Duffy, Signature Press
  • James Fletcher, Sharp Print Finishers
  • Gary Furness, Crucial Colour
  • Craig Harrison, SCG
  • Mike Horler, NZME
  • Jeremy Hunt, Big Brown Industries
  • Ben Johnston, Colourcraft
  • Travis Jordan, SCG
  • Graham Judd, Inkiana Press
  • Brent Kale, Kale Print
  • Gavin Kale, Kale Print
  • Raymond Kho, Banner Express
  • Christophe Kiou, Monster Print
  • Brian Landry, SCG
  • Peter Lloyd, Kale Print
  • Craig Loveridge, Blue Star Group
  • Jamie Lunam, Jenkins Freshpac
  • Nick Marsh, 5 Digital
  • Matt Mills, Fuzed
  • Tegan Mills, Fuzed
  • Tim Morris, Laserfoil
  • Rajesh Mudundi, Five Star
  • Phil Norvill, ACI Screen & Print
  • Margriet O’Reilly, Pinc
  • Andrew Slane
  • Andre Smith, Cube
  • Fred Soar, SCG
  • Dave Trotter, StudioQ
  • Dan Wheeler, Freedom Plus
  • Geoff Wheeler, CCL
  • Russell Wieck, NZME
  • Krystal Woods, 5 Digital

Rising Stars of Print Awards

  • Britt Anderson, PrintLounge
  • Liam Blom, ACI Screen & Print
  • Tom Dempsey, Webstar
  • Kosema Fuiono, Blue Star Collard
  • Alistair McEwen, Fuzed
  • Aleisha Mutch, Pinc
  • Mohammed Nasir, Torque Digital
  • Tessa Rowe, Kale Print
  • Nana Southall, Blue Star Constellation
  • Freya Wyeth, Pinc

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *