TOP ENTERTAINERS RECOGNISED AS VARIETY ARTISTS CLUB2025 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

12 Nov

The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand (VAC) brought the glitz and glamour to central Auckland on Sunday 9 November. Over 200 people attended the VAC’s annual entertainment awards held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel to celebrate yet another impressive list of Aotearoa’s entertainment talent legends and newcomers, which included musicians, comedians, magicians, dancers, actors, and television personalities.

The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1966 to promote goodwill throughout the NZ entertainment industry. The Club was established to foster loyalty, friendship, and cooperation among performers and industry professionals across the country. Each year the VAC hosts the prestigious Benny Awards, a cornerstone event on the NZ entertainment calendar. The awards attract many of the nation’s most recognisable performers and influential industry figures, celebrating excellence and honouring outstanding contributions to the arts. The Benny Awards remain the only national honours recognising and celebrating artists across all genres and fields of entertainment in NZ.

The biggest award of the evening, the Benny Award for lifetime achievement went to NZ’s top female pop artist of the 1960’s, and Christchurch’s very own Queen of the Mods, DINAH LEE. In presenting the award VAC President, Tom Sharplin said that although Dinah had lived in Australia for many years she had never been forgotten by her homeland; that we are delighted to see her back with us and that the VAC is honoured to finally be able to present her with a coveted Benny.

Prestigious Scroll of Honour Awards were presented by David Hartnell MNZM, Patron of the VAC, to:

§ RICHARD O’BRIEN, the creator of The Rocky Horror Show, the longest running stage show that has been performed in 30 countries, translated into 20 languages, and seen by over 53 million people so far for over 50 years. The film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is also the longest running film ever to play in global cinemas. Although born in England to where in 1964 he returned to break into the British film industry, he has called NZ home since emigrating here with his parents at the age of 10 in 1952 and where the seed of an idea started to grow for his global phenomenon while attending many late-night shows at Hamilton’s Embassy Theatre.

§ TV commercial queen, songwriter of the cult anti-hit song Blue Monkey and famous for sayings like ‘ow my crikey,’ and ‘thousands of luminous spheres,’ a woman that “hasn’t worn heels since 1971” but is an adamant supporter of all kinds of NZ charities – SUZANNE PAUL

§ TV Holmes show, Lost and Found and David Lomas Investigates, investigative journalist DAVID LOMAS also recognised for his inspirational work reuniting families.

§ NZ’s first female television newsreader, and the first woman within the Commonwealth of Nations to present a prime-time news programme on TV2 - launched Monday 30 June 1975 – JENNIE GOODWIN

§ One of the last living artists from the celebrated Māori showband era, WES EPAE was a member of Wellington’s Māori Hi Fi showband.

§ HAMISH MOUAT, a director and choreographer of stage shows in NZ and abroad and a huge contributor to youth theatre.

The Agnew Award for Excellence went to musician STUART PEARCE. Stuart has been at the forefront of NZ music for over 50 years, having arranged and played on some of NZ’s most iconic songs such as E Ipo, Sierra Leone, Poi E, and I’ll Say Goodbye (Even Though I’m Blue), and in 2011, was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame as part of Hello Sailor. Stuart was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to illness but his partner, Pauline Berry was there to accept the award on his behalf.

The Pacific Entertainment Top Female Artist Award went to JAEDYN RANDELL. Jaedyn performed to millions of viewers in The Voice Australia last year, finishing as runner up, has voiced the character Moana in the te reo Māori version of the Disney film Moana and has performed her own music on platforms including Waiata Nation and. Other nominees for this award included Georga Lines, and Jenny Mitchell.

The Pub Charity Top Male Artist Award went to RUTENE SPOONER. Hailing from Tairawhiti Gisborne, Rutene is part of the Modern Māori Quartet, performed in the stage shows Chicago, Moana 2, Frozen, and B Like Billy – a tribute to Billy T James. He is the self-proclaimed love child of Prince Tui Teka and Shirley Bassey! His father, a Tairawhiti scrub cutter inspired him, and he dedicated his award to the scrub cutters of the night – those that “get in there and do the work.” The other nominees in this category are NZ Idols Michael Murphy and Gold Guitar winner Jaydin Shingleton.

David Hartnell MNZM and fellow VAC Patron, Gray Bartlett MBE presented the VAC Patrons Award to one of NZ’s country music elite and winner of several MLT NZ Gold Guitar awards and an American Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, singer and recording artist KYLIE AUSTIN-WARD.

Jodi Vaughan presented the 2025 Top Group Award to rock/metal band BLINDSPOTT, whose members include Damian Alexander and Shelton Woolright. Damian Alexander dedicated the award to his father-in-law, music promoter and one of Radio Hauraki’s celebrated founding pioneers Ian Magan (RIP).

The NZ Promoters Association Ovation Award went to SIMONE WILLIAMS from LIBERTY STAGE, for her work on the Come Together concert series which joins all NZ musicians, venues and audiences and provides vital opportunities for musical collaborations that sell out some of Aotearoa’s biggest theatres. Layton Lillas, President of the NZ Promoters Association (NZPA) presented the Award.

The International Achievement Award went to internationally acclaimed choreographer and 4-time world Hip Hop champion KIEL TUTIN accepting via video link. Now based in LA, Kiel works with numerous international music stars like Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry, and our own Stan Walker (watch showreel here).

The Top Showcase Entertainment Award went to international magician and comedian JARRED FELL, who previously won three VAC Awards and was the most nominated showcase artist this year. Jarred’s father accepted the award on his behalf with Jarred sending an acceptance from his current gig on the Crown Pacific Cruise ship.

The NZ Entertainment Academy Top Musician Award, presented by Gray Bartlett MBE went to a guitarist with 28 years’ experience playing alongside international jazz and pop artists such as Annie Crummer, Stan Walker, and Rufus Wainwright. He won the Best Jazz Album award in 2020 and is director of Coke a Cola Christmas in the Park, DIXON NACEY.

The Rielly Comedy Award was presented to Wellington musician, actor, motivational speaker and comedian, and part of the Laughing Samoans, Taskmaster, Moana 2, TOFIGA FEPULEA’I, who in his speech said he never stands alone, because he always is with his family and his village.

International trumpeter, John McGough presented the Gary Daverne Classical Music Award to composer, recording artist and teacher, former NZ Music Classic Artist of the Year and former student at the Julliard School of New York, DR SARAH WATKINS.

The Pat McMinn Rising Star Awards went to 13-year-old singer, actor, and dancer from shows such as Mary Poppins, Kinky Boots, Matilda, and Lion King, ASHER WHITEHEAD. A second Rising Star Award went to the four-piece band of siblings and Smokefree Rockquest finalists DANIEL, MATTHEW, ASHLEY, and HANNAH HYDE from the group RUMPUS MACHINE.

The MC for the night was the hilariously funny MICHELE A’COURT and performers for the evening included former Trans-Tasman Country Music Entertainer of the Year winner, MELISSA O’CONNELL singing a raunchily ‘so Good, so good’ James Brown track and a country music medley with yodelling that showed a dynamic vocal range that was perfectly supported by her husband CHET O’CONNELL’S flawless guitar.

Irelands Best MC and Comedy Guild Award winner, NZ based ALAN MCELORY brought the laughs with “my favourite place in Australia is… Bali!” and “it’s all Aussies in Buggie smugglers where I can see the budgie, the beak and the feathers!”

Fresh off the 2024 NZ Secondary Schools Choir tour of China, Palmerston North singer, actor, musician JOSHUA WEBSTER brought Sinatra and the glam of New York New York.

Internationally renowned accordionist, GRAYSON MASEFIELD and the Auckland Philharmonia’s concert master, violinist ANDREW BEER played Piazzolla Tango, a jazz standard of Over the Rainbow and world music Balken dance track that could stop wars!

The VAC’s 2013 Top Male Artist PHIL MADSEN performed a John Farnham medley and his chart-topping track Dancing on the Moon and former VAC Top Musician Award winner, BRUCE FRENCH played saxophone to a beautiful original track written by DT DAVID THOMAS. Earlier in the evening Bruce also performed a soulful rendition of Celine Dion’s Immortality while the VAC honoured those entertainers who had passed away over the past year.

VAC 2025 AWARDS RECIPIENTS
The Benny Award – DINAH LEE

Agnew Award for Excellence – STUART PEARCE

Pacific Entertainment Top Female Artist Award – JAEDYN RANDELL

Pub Charity Top Male Artist Award - RUTENE SPOONER

Scroll of Honour Presentations –

JENNIE GOODWIN, WES EPAE, DAVID LOMAS, SUZANNE PAUL, HAMISH MOUAT, RICHARD O’BRIEN (Rocky Horror)

Patron’s Award – KYLIE AUSTIN-WARD

International Achievement Award – KEIL TUTIN

2025 Top Group Award - BLINDSPOTT (Damian Alexander and Shelton Woolright)

NZ Promoters Association Ovation Award – SIMONE WILLIAMS (Liberty Stage)

Top Showcase Entertainment Award - JARRED FELL

NZ Entertainment Academy Top Musician Awards - DIXON NACEY