High quality of Aotearoa print industry on show at Pride in Print Awards
Torrential rainfall outside Christchurch’s Te Pae Convention Centre failed to dampen the spirits of those gathered for New Zealand’s premier awards night: PrintNZ’s Pride in Print Awards. Nor could the rain wash away the smile of Rob Johansen, National Account Manager for Brebner Print, accepting the Supreme Award for the Blue Star Group company’s high quality production of a series of New Zealand Bird stamps.
Other Major Award winners on the night included APC Innovate taking out the Sign & Display Print Award for its Heineken Electric Ave Pallet Display, Auckland-based label printers MCC Albany for its ‘SolarBurst’ Colour Build Collection, recognised for their Industry Development and Creativity, and Travers Dobson from Christchurch’s Leading Label Company, named as the BJ Ball Apprentice of the Year.
Opal Fibre Packaging New Zealand was recognised as Training Company of the Year, whilst one of their trainers, Matthew Moore received joint recognition for his work, along with Rhys Fauvel from Blue Star Wellington, jointly receiving the Trainer of the Year Award. SCG received a Sustainability Award and other Category Awards went to:
- Allied Press – Publications Newspapers / Otago Daily Times, 17 February 2025
- Blue Star Auckland Print & Packaging – Publications Magazines / Sage Journal
- Gravitas Media – Publications Books / Well Worn Publication
- Brebner Print – Business Print / New Zealand Birds Series
- Blue Star Wellington – Promotional Print / WOW 2026 Calendar
- MCC Albany Labels – Kolo Pinot Noir 2022
- Sealed Air Hamilton – Flexible Packaging / Cheddar Natural Slices 200g
- Valley Print 2020 – Paper and Board Packaging / Vaione Gin Gift Cartons
- ABC Original Print – Structural Design Packaging / Whittakers Caramel/Banana Presentation Box
- Gravure Packaging – Packaging All Other Materials / Whittaker’s Brandy Snap
- APC Innovate – Sign and Display Print / Heineken Electric Ave Pallet Display
- Southan Print – Specialty Products / Wella, Fine Art Screen Print
- Studio Q / LaserFoil – Print Finishing / Osmosis Blemish Control Essentials Kit
- MCC Albany – Industry Development and Creativity / SolarBurst, The Colour Build Collection
- Logick Print & Graphics – Print Industry Promotion / Logick Playing Cards Set
Process Awards were received by:
- Stuff for Coldset Offset – The Post Your Weekend
- Webstar Auckland for Heatset Offset – Franklin Times
- Blue Star Wellington for Sheetfed Offset – WOW Programme 2025
- Leading Label Company for Digital – Heyday Snow Leopard IPA
- Sealed Air Hamilton for Flexographic– Cheddar Natural Slices 200g
- Gravure Packaging for Gravure – Whittaker’s Brandy Snap
- iProduction for Inkjet – Dunhuang Culture in New Zealand, Silk VUE Dual-Layer Translucent Fabric Display
- Southan Print for Screen – Wella, Fine Art Screen Print ()
- The Armarie Room for Letterpress – Putiki Estate
The Pride in Print Awards are New Zealand’s premier annual event, celebrating excellence in the printing industry and recognising outstanding print work from across Aotearoa, highlighting creativity, technical skill, and innovation in print production.
