EVANZ recognises excellence in New Zealand’s venue industry at 2024 awards

The Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) has presented it annual awards, honouring its former Chair Keith Parker for his outstanding contribution to the venues industry with his becoming the first recipient of a Life Membership of the Association.

Presented at the end of day two of the EVANZ end-of-year Conference at Auckland’s Eden Park, Parker’s award acknowledged his career as Venues Manager at Waikato Stadium from 1990 to 2010 and his more recent role as Operations Manager at Eden Park from 2010 to 2023 during which time he was seconded as Event Service Manager for the 2021 America's Cup.

He was also Chair of EVANZ from 2017 to 2020.

EVANZ 2024 Award winners:

Ticketmaster Small Venue of the Year (under 1,000 seats)
The Turner Centre

EVANZ Medium Venue of the Year (1,000 to 4,999 seats)
Trafalgar Centre

Tomkins Wake Large Venue of the Year (over 5,000 seats)
Go Media Stadium

Momentus Technologies Rising Star
Sarah Snowden - Northland Event Centre

VITEC Team Member of the Year
Sam Kennedy - Spark Arena

VMA Team Leader of the Year
Mark Mekalick - Nelson Community Venues

Industry Supplier of the Year
NW Group

Commenting on the awards, EVANZ advised “these awards are always a testament to the passion, innovation, and hard work of the people and venues who make New Zealand's event industry world-class.”

Images: Eden Park welcomes EVANZ (top) and Keith Parker receives his Life Membership of the Association (below).