New Zealand superyacht stewardess Aesha Scott stars in the Bravo reality series Below Deck Photo: Maree Wilkinson Photography
The Kiwi star of a reality show about life on luxury superyachts has been named Personality of the Year at the 2023 New Zealand Television Awards - Ngā Taonga Whakaata O Aotearoa.
Aesha Scott, who stars in Below Deck Down Under, won the publicly-voted award, which was announced at a glittering event at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre on Tuesday night.
Earlier this year, Scott told Kim Hill that delivering five-star service with TV cameras around 24/7 was tough.
"It's not all fun and games but I'm determined to keep doing it as long as my sanity will let me," she said.
Nearly 40 awards were announced during the night, recognising excellence in Aotearoa's TV industry across news and entertainment.
1News took out the award for Best News Coverage for their reportage on the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, and 1News' Thomas Mead was named Reporter of the Year.
Patrick Gower won Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs for his work across Newshub Live at 6pm, Paddy Gower Has Issues, AM, The Project NZ and Paddy Gower On…. His co-star Karen O'Leary won Best Presenter: Entertainment for her work on Paddy Gower Has Issues.
Sunday was named Best Current Affairs Programme and Taskmaster NZ won Best Entertainment Programme.
Antonia Prebble was named Best Actress for her role in Double Parked, and Dominic Ona-Ariki was named Best Actor for his work in One Lane Bridge.
Crime drama The Gone won five awards including Best Drama, Best Cinematography (Drama/Comedy Drama), Best Original Score, Best Costume Design and Best Makeup Design.
Princess of Chaos, based on the 2013 political scandal that erupted when then-mayor of Auckland Len Brown was discovered to have had an affair with council advisor Bevan Chuang, won awards for Best Editing (Drama/Comedy Drama), Best Post Production Design and Best Director (Drama/Comedy Drama).
NZ Wars, Stories of Wairau, which was produced for RNZ by the Aotearoa Media Collective and Great Southern Television was named Best Māori Programme.
Oscar Kightley was honoured as the 2023 TV Legend.
2023 New Zealand Television Awards winners are:
NZ On Air Best Drama
The Gone
Kingfisher Films/ Keeper Pictures/ Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
Best Comedy
Educators: Season 3 Episode 1
South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ + and TVNZ 2
Best Factual Series
When Bob Came: Season 1
Stella Maris Production / Caravan Carpark Films / TVNZ+
NZ On Air Best Documentary
No Māori Allowed
Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
Best Original Reality Series
The Walkers: Season 2 Episode 3
Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
Best Format Reality Series
The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes
Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
Best Current Affairs Programme
Sunday
TVNZ / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
NZ On Air Best Children's Programme
Mystic Season 3
Libertine Pictures & Slim Film + TV / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme
NZ Wars, Stories of Wairau
Aotearoa Media Collective & Great Southern Television / RNZ
Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme
Homesteads
Te Imurangi Ltd / Whakaata Māori
NZ On Air Best Pasifika Programme
Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a: Season 2
Kingston Productions Ltd / The Coconet TV
Best News Coverage
1News - Cyclone Gabrielle
TVNZ / 1News, TVNZ 1
Best Sports Programme
East Coast Rising
Pango Productions / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
Best Live Event Coverage
ANZAC 2023
Whakaata Māori
Best Entertainment Programme
Taskmaster NZ
Kevin & Co / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ 2
Best Director: Documentary/Factual
Toby Longbottom
Fire and Fury
Stuff Circuit / Stuff
Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama / Comedy Drama
Kiel McNaughton
Princess of Chaos
Chaos Films Ltd, Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Ltd & Augusto Ltd / TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+
Best Actress
Antonia Prebble
Double Parked
Kevin & Co / Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three
Best Supporting Actress
Sesilia Pusiaki
Inky Pinky Ponky
Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet TV / Whakaata Māori
Best Actor
Dominic Ona-Ariki
One Lane Bridge
Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
Best Supporting Actor
Rick Donald
Educators
South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2
Reporter of the Year
Thomas Mead
1News
TVNZ / 1News, TVNZ 1
Best Presenter: Entertainment
Karen O'Leary
Paddy Gower Has Issues
Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ /ThreeNow and Three
Best Presenter: News And Current Affairs
Patrick Gower
Newshub Live at 6pm, Paddy Gower Has Issues, AM, The Project NZ, Paddy Gower On…
Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / Newshub / ThreeNow and Three
Television Personality of the Year
Aesha Scott
Below Deck Down Under
Bravo (New Zealand)
Television Legend
Oscar Kightley
For the complete list of awards, see NZ TV Awards.