Last night at the celebratory Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) Awards Dinner accolades were passed out to winners in nine award categories and two Supreme Awards were bestowed. Christchurch, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Auckland all had winning entrants, with Darren Burden from Vbase in Christchurch winning two awards - Venue Executive and Supreme Venue Person. 

This year the Contribution to Industry Award, recognising dedication and success within the industry, went to Neil Cox of the Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch. Over the past 5 years, Neil has made a contribution well beyond resurrecting the Isaac Theatre Royal back to world class standards after the catastrophic earthquake. Soon after Neil has brought the Theatre back to its rightful place as one of the best performing arts centres in the country. 

In the Excellence section, for the Tompkins Wake Lawyers Excellence in Customer Service, Vbase in Christchurch scooped the award, with the iTicket Excellence in Innovation award going to H3 Group, Hamilton. In the final category Eden Park, Auckland took out the Health Promotion Agency Excellence in Venue Host Responsibility.

Within the Venue section, New Plymouth took the award for the Ticketmaster Large Venue with Yarrow Stadium, its multisport/purpose venue. The Eventfinda Small Venue winner is Q Theatre Auckland, who consistently does a great job of connecting audiences to the arts. The Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch wins the Evanz Medium Venue, being commended on their perseverance, initiative and tenacity over the past year, and also receives the Ticket Direct Supreme Venue of the Year Award, leading the way to achieving success in both venue and community.                              

In the final section of awards, focussed on People Sven Ladewig of the H3 Group Hamilton has been named as the Simpson Grierson Operations Manager of the Year. Darren Burden of Vbase in Christchurch wins not only Ticketek Venue Executive of the Year, but also the Priava Supreme Venue Person of the Year for exceptional leadership under duress and challenging circumstances. Chyna Phelan from Eden Park, Auckland, is the 2016 Priava Rising Star of the Year having shown solid commitment to her own growth and development and taking every opportunity to move forward in her career.  

All entries received show the great wealth of talent and dedication within the events, entertainment and venue industries.

The EVANZ Venue Award Winners for 2016 are:

EVANZ Contribution to Industry Award                

RECIPIENT: Neil Cox, Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch                  

EXCELLENCE SECTION

Tompkins Wake Lawyers Excellence in Customer Service

WINNER: Vbase, Christchurch

iTicket Excellence in Innovation

WINNER: H3 Group, Hamilton

Health Promotion Agency Excellence in Venue Host Responsibility

WINNER: Eden Park, Auckland                  

VENUE SECTION

Ticketmaster Large Venue (+5,000 Seats)

WINNER: Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth                          

Evanz Medium Venue (1001-4999 Seats)

WINNER: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch        

Eventfinda Small Venue (1-1000 Seats)

WINNER: Q Theatre, Auckland  

Ticket Direct Supreme Venue

Ticket Direct Supreme Venue of the Year Award (highest scoring nomination across the 3 venue awards - large, medium and small)

WINNER: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch        

PEOPLE SECTION

Ticketek Venue Executive of the Year

WINNER: Darren Burden, Vbase, Christchurch  

Simpson Grierson Operations Manager of the Year

WINNER: Sven Ladewig, H3 Group, Hamilton

Priava Rising Star of the Year

WINNER: Chyna Phelan, Eden Park, Auckland

Priava Supreme Venue Person of the Year

Priava Supreme Venue Person of the Year (highest scoring nomination across the 3 people awards)

WINNER: Darren Burden, Vbase, Christchurch