A word from our event partner
James Angus
Chief Customer Officer,
Bluestone
Awards categories
What to expect on the night
2023 Sponsors
Select Adviser of the Year – Independent & Franchise
As Auckland’s sparkling city lights reflected in the waters of the Waitemata on either side of the Hilton on Princes Wharf, attendees at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards 2023 could almost be forgiven for thinking they were about to set sail.
The first in-person New Zealand Mortgage Awards marked a departure from the remote events of the previous two years by raising the pandemic anchor and affirming that the industry was setting a course for the future.
Bluestone, the main sponsor of the event, underscored the importance of embracing that future by sponsoring the New Brokerage of the Year category.
Event partner
Award sponsors
Official media
Organiser
Methodology
more
Excellence Awardees
Nominations
Nominations were opened for submission via an online portal. The awards were free to enter. Individuals and companies were able to nominate themselves or their peers in unlimited categories. Submissions focused on mortgage professionals and their achievements over the last 12 months.
Confirmation of Excellence Awardees
Once the research was completed, Excellence Awardees were selected in each category and notified via email. Excellence Awardees were also announced on the NZ Adviser website on 20 February.
Judging
An independent panel of judges appointed by NZ Adviser, comprised of mortgage and finance leaders from around New Zealand, reviewed the Excellence Awardees' submissions and allocated each of them a confidential and impartial score.
Find out more
Avanti Finance Adviser of the Year – Specialist Lending
Adviser of the Year – Regional
Commercial Mortgage Adviser
First Mortgage Trust Young Gun of the Year
Best BDM of the Year (Banks, Non-Banks, Aggregators)
Best Customer Service of an Individual Office
Mike Pero Mortgages Brokerage of the Year – 1–5 Staff
Prospa Brokerage of the Year – 6+ Staff
Bluestone New Brokerage of the Year
Mortgage awards launch into new era
With the nation’s best advisers, lenders, business development managers and brokerages as guiding stars, the industry can be confident of greater things ahead
On behalf of Bluestone and our white label partner Select, I am extremely proud to once again be the official event partner for the 2023 New Zealand Mortgage Awards.
Recognising and celebrating outstanding achievement in our industry is always important, but perhaps even more so in the current climate.
To all the winners and nominees, I congratulate you for this well-earned recognition and thank you for your contribution to our industry.
“This category is so important to the industry, as it shows there are new advisers coming through, which is exactly what we need,” said Bluestone head of sales for New Zealand Sue Griffiths, shortly after the award was presented to joint winners Ben Mune of Ascend Financial Services and Sanjeev Jangra of Loan Market.
“We’ve got a whole new generation of people buying houses now who want to do it differently, with different needs. By having younger people in our industry, it helps us to understand what those needs are,” Griffiths said.
Celebrating, networking and raising the bar
Sponsors and participants affirmed the importance of celebrating the industry’s best and brightest.
“The NZMA Awards serve as a platform to honour and recognise trust and excellence in the mortgage industry,” said Ian Boyce, general manager property at Avanti Finance, which sponsored the Adviser of the Year – Specialist Lending award.
“[It] encourages everyone to strive for high performance and great customer outcomes, which reinforces trust and confidence in our industry,” Boyce added.
Advisers and lenders are a competitive bunch, so bringing colleagues and rivals together created a high energy vibe at the Hilton.
“It’s important to come together as an industry and acknowledge and celebrate those that are excelling … it’s great to have so much positive energy in the one room,” said head of lending at First Mortgage Trust (FMT) Sam Burgess. FMT sponsored the Young Gun of the Year award.
The evening celebrated successes, shook out the COVID-19 cobwebs, and helped many to put faces to names.
“It's a fantastic event where people within the industry can network and make connections,” said Prospa’s managing director New Zealand, Adrienne Begbie.
“These awards are so important because they celebrate the advisers, brokerages, aggregators, lenders and BDMs that work tirelessly to make these dreams come true, while also championing best practice within the industry.”
A growing and changing role for advisers
The awards also serve as a marker to pause and measure the progress that mortgage advisers and financial institutions are making in residential and commercial lending around the country.
“The awards recognise the best in the industry for their contribution to helping Kiwis into homes and with their homeownership goals,” said Amanda Young, head of third party banking at ASB Bank.
There is no doubt their role is growing. Recent figures from Moody’s estimate that mortgage advisers’ market share of new residential loans in New Zealand is between 55% and 60%, up from about 40% in 2017. This share is expected to continue increasing as homeowners roll off low fixed rates and seek professional advice to secure the best deal in the current inflation-driven higher-rate environment.
“We are very conscious that many of our customers are concerned about the economic outlook, the current housing market and rising interest rates, and what this means for them. In this environment, the role mortgage advisers play in providing their customers with the right advice becomes even more critical,” Young said.
Falls in mortgage lending levels may encourage advisers to diversify into other areas that need funding.
“Given the current climate, savvy mortgage advisers may want to look out for opportunities to leverage their existing client base to expand their services into small business lending. There is no reason why advisers can't position themselves to thrive in both residential and small business lending and expand their client base,” Begbie said.
A tougher economy is likely to drive more customers into the arms of experts familiar with the increasing number of lending options available from banks and alternative lenders alike.
“As the non-bank market grows in New Zealand, the need for quality mortgage advisers only increases. It’s unrealistic for borrowers to have a detailed knowledge of the non-bank market, so the role of the mortgage adviser becomes increasingly important,” Burgess said.
The social impact of good financial advice
Eugene Bartsaikin, mortgage adviser and director at Twine Financial Advisers and winner of Adviser of the Year – Independent & Franchise, sponsored by Select, knows the importance of helping everyone to get ahead with their finances.
Speaking after winning the award, he emphasised that financial advice could be a powerful force for social good. His client list includes people who have been through the criminal justice system and served time in prison.
“That’s rewarding in a different sense. We have to be able to look at things through the eyes of different people. Everyone deserves a chance,” Bartsaikin said.
He said clients often contacted him years after his assistance to tell him what a difference it had made to their lives, but this had increased since he won the award.
“There has been a beautiful outpouring of support, especially from my original clients from early on being really happy for me. It makes it even easier for them to refer their friends and family to us,” he said.
Bartsaikin’s business has grown fivefold in five years, and he now has five advisers under his umbrella, as he has sometimes struggled to keep up with demand.
“I found myself as the bottleneck early on in the business, so needed to make sure we had the capacity we needed to keep going. I feel strongly that essentially taking the risk early in hiring staff and growing the business to grow capacity has served us well to date.”
Bringing in his wife Irene to take care of many aspects of the business also helped.
Clearly, there is huge potential for mortgage advisers to continue making an impact. Across the Tasman, mortgage brokers in Australia currently write just under 70% of all new residential lending – a number that has accelerated rapidly over the past two years.
It would be a brave call to pull out the crystal ball from the bottom drawer so soon after the pandemic, but with most major banks and many non-banks in New Zealand operating under Australian ownership, the possibility that adviser share here will trace the same arc over the next few years can’t be ruled out.
“The mortgage industry is constantly evolving and changing, and borrowers will be seeking guidance and advice from trusted professionals more than ever,” Boyce said.
Our voyage continues…
Regardless of what happens, Key Media and NZ Adviser are sure that the industry will have some fun on the journey after this year’s evening to remember in Auckland. Many are already pencilling in the 2024 awards.
“We’re looking forward to being involved in future events,” Burgess said.
Thanks to all attendees for making NZMA 2023 a success – from industry veterans to three-month-old baby Tyla, who accompanied her mother, Elyce Peters of award-winning The Mortgage Girls, on stage to receive the trophy for Brokerage of the Year (6+ Staff). This award was sponsored by Prospa.
“We're really proud to be sponsors of the New Zealand Mortgage Awards,” Begbie said. “Mortgage advisers are there for people during huge life milestones; for instance, first home buyers, those looking for the perfect family home and those looking to downsize for retirement.”
There were hundreds of entries from brokerages, lenders, business development managers and mortgage advisers for the awards, which went to Excellence Awardees and winners across 11 categories.
The panel of judges included prominent and well-respected industry leaders from organisations such as Financial Advice New Zealand, Prospa, Liberty Financial, Fisher Funds, UDC Finance, The Fundmaster, Norfolk Mortgage Trust, Astute Financial Management, Tony Mounce Mortgages, Maori Women’s Development and more.
Research
The New Zealand Mortgage Awards team conducted due diligence, drawing on research and editorial insights to verify the information submitted in the nominations.
“This category is so important to the industry, as it shows there are new advisers coming through, which is exactly what we need,” said Bluestone head of sales for New Zealand Sue Griffiths, shortly after the award was presented to joint winners Ben Mune of Ascend Financial Services and Sanjeev Jangra of Loan Market.
“We’ve got a whole new generation of people buying houses now who want to do it differently, with different needs. By having younger people in our industry, it helps us to understand what those needs are,” Griffiths said.
Celebrating, networking and raising the bar
Sponsors and participants affirmed the importance of celebrating the industry’s best and brightest.
“The NZMA Awards serve as a platform to honour and recognise trust and excellence in the mortgage industry,” said Ian Boyce, general manager property at Avanti Finance, which sponsored the Adviser of the Year – Specialist Lending award.
“[It] encourages everyone to strive for high performance and great customer outcomes, which reinforces trust and confidence in our industry,” Boyce added.
Advisers and lenders are a competitive bunch, so bringing colleagues and rivals together created a high energy vibe at the Hilton, which the live band can’t take all the credit for.
“It’s important to come together as an industry and acknowledge and celebrate those that are excelling … it’s great to have so much positive energy in the one room,” said head of lending at First Mortgage Trust (FMT) Sam Burgess. FMT sponsored the Young Gun of the Year award.
The evening celebrated successes, shook out the COVID-19 cobwebs, and helped many to put faces to names.
“It's a fantastic event where people within the industry can network and make connections,” said Prospa’s managing director New Zealand, Adrienne Begbie.
“These awards are so important because they celebrate the advisers, brokerages, aggregators, lenders and BDMs that work tirelessly to make these dreams come true, while also championing best practice within the industry.”
A growing and changing role for advisers
The awards also serve as a marker to pause and measure the progress that mortgage advisers and financial institutions are making in residential and commercial lending around the country.
“The awards recognise the best in the industry for their contribution to helping Kiwis into homes and with their homeownership goals,” said Amanda Young, head of third party banking at ASB Bank.
There is no doubt their role is growing. Recent figures from Moody’s estimate that mortgage advisers’ market share of new residential loans in New Zealand is between 55% and 60%, up from about 40% in 2017. This share is expected to continue increasing as homeowners roll off low fixed rates and seek professional advice to secure the best deal in the current inflation-driven higher-rate environment.
“We are very conscious that many of our customers are concerned about the economic outlook, the current housing market and rising interest rates, and what this means for them. In this environment, the role mortgage advisers play in providing their customers with the right advice becomes even more critical,” Young said.
Falls in mortgage lending levels may encourage advisers to diversify into other areas that need funding.
“Given the current climate, savvy mortgage advisers may want to look out for opportunities to leverage their existing client base to expand their services into small business lending. There is no reason why advisers can't position themselves to thrive in both residential and small business lending and expand their client base,” Begbie said.
A tougher economy is likely to drive more customers into the arms of experts familiar with the increasing number of lending options available from banks and alternative lenders alike.
“As the non-bank market grows in New Zealand, the need for quality mortgage advisers only increases. It’s unrealistic for borrowers to have a detailed knowledge of the non-bank market, so the role of the mortgage adviser becomes increasingly important,” Burgess said.
The social impact of good financial advice
Eugene Bartsaikin, mortgage adviser and director at Twine Financial Advisers and winner of Adviser of the Year – Independent & Franchise, sponsored by Select, knows the importance of helping everyone to get ahead with their finances.
Speaking after winning the award, he emphasised that financial advice could be a powerful force for social good. His client list includes people who have been through the criminal justice system and served time in prison.
“That’s rewarding in a different sense. We have to be able to look at things through the eyes of different people. Everyone deserves a chance,” Bartsaikin said.
He said clients often contacted him years after his assistance to tell him what a difference it had made to their lives, but this had increased since he won the award.
“There has been a beautiful outpouring of support, especially from my original clients from early on being really happy for me. It makes it even easier for them to refer their friends and family to us,” he said.
Bartsaikin’s business has grown fivefold in five years, and he now has five advisers under his umbrella, as he has sometimes struggled to keep up with demand.
“I found myself as the bottleneck early on in the business, so needed to make sure we had the capacity we needed to keep going. I feel strongly that essentially taking the risk early in hiring staff and growing the business to grow capacity has served us well to date.”
Bringing in his wife Irene to take care of many aspects of the business also helped.
Clearly, there is huge potential for mortgage advisers to continue making an impact. Across the Tasman, mortgage brokers in Australia currently write just under 70% of all new residential lending – a number that has accelerated rapidly over the past two years.
It would be a brave call to pull out the crystal ball from the bottom drawer so soon after the pandemic, but with most major banks and many non-banks in New Zealand operating under Australian ownership, the possibility that adviser share here will trace the same arc over the next few years can’t be ruled out.
“The mortgage industry is constantly evolving and changing, and borrowers will be seeking guidance and advice from trusted professionals more than ever,” Boyce said.
Our voyage continues…
Regardless of what happens, Key Media and NZ Adviser are sure that the industry will have some fun on the journey after this year’s evening to remember in Auckland. Many are already pencilling in the 2024 awards.
“We’re looking forward to being involved in future events,” Burgess said.
Thanks to all attendees for making NZMA 2023 a success – from industry veterans to three-month-old baby Tyla, who accompanied her mother, Elyce Peters of award-winning The Mortgage Girls, on stage to receive the trophy for Brokerage of the Year (6+ Staff). This award was sponsored by Prospa.
“We're really proud to be sponsors of the New Zealand Mortgage Awards,” Begbie said. “Mortgage advisers are there for people during huge life milestones; for instance, first home buyers, those looking for the perfect family home and those looking to downsize for retirement.”
There were hundreds of entries from brokerages, lenders, business development managers and mortgage advisers for the awards, which went to Excellence Awardees and winners across 11 categories.
The panel of judges included prominent and well-respected industry leaders from organisations such as Financial Advice New Zealand, Prospa, Liberty Financial, Fisher Funds, UDC Finance, The Fundmaster, Norfolk Mortgage Trust, Astute Financial Management, Tony Mounce Mortgages, Maori Women’s Development and more.
As Auckland’s sparkling city lights reflected in the waters of the Waitemata on either side of the Hilton on Princes Wharf, attendees at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards 2023 could almost be forgiven for thinking they were about to set sail.
The first in-person New Zealand Mortgage Awards marked a departure from the remote events of the previous two years by raising the pandemic anchor and affirming that the industry was setting a course for the future.
Bluestone, the main sponsor of the event, underscored the importance of embracing that future by sponsoring the New Brokerage of the Year category.
With the nation’s best advisers, lenders, business development managers and brokerages as guiding stars, the industry can be confident of greater things ahead
Mortgage awards launch into new era
Excellence
Awardees
Awards
more
Best Non-Bank of the Year
Aaron Skilton
Katrina Shanks
Elyce Peters
Tony Mounce
Cath Lomax
Ping Liu
Sarah Johnston
Glenys Holden
Jacque Elias
Dev Dhingra
Colleen Dennehy
Linda Clay
Julius Capilitan
Adrienne Begbie
Eugene Bartsaikin
Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognise and celebrate excellence in the mortgage industry.
2023 Judging panel
Bluestone is a fast-growing lender specialising in residential home loans with over 21 years’ experience across New Zealand and Australia. Bluestone’s goal is to create a sustainable alternative lending sector to help Kiwi borrowers at all ends of the credit curve. To date, we have helped over 13,000 Kiwis achieve their financial goals through property ownership.
Contact details:
Phone: 0800 668 333
Email: sales.support@bluestone.net.nz
Website: www.bluestone.net.nz/advisers
Event Partner
At Select, we believe that every Kiwi should have the chance to own their home. That’s why our home loans offer a wide range of solutions that cater to borrowers’ changing financial needs.
Select home loans are currently exclusively available via the New Zealand Financial Services Group (NZFSG) and Loan Market network of mortgage advisers.
Contact Details:
Phone: 0800 002 207
Email: sales.support@bluestone.net.nz
Website: www.selecthome.co.nz/advisers/
Co-Event Partner
Avanti Finance is an award-winning non-bank, that has been serving New Zealanders for over 30 years. We offer a broad range of lending solutions through our strong introducer network, including car, personal, business, as well as specialized and near prime home loans.
Contact Details:
Michael Harrison
Head of Property Sales
Phone: 021 1934 378
Mobile: +64 21 1934 378
Address: Avanti Finance Limited, 33 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland 1023
Email: Michael.harrison@avantifinance.co.nz
Website: avantifinance.co.nz
Award Sponsor
First Mortgage Trust was established over 26 years ago in Tauranga. Today, First Mortgage Trust is New Zealand’s largest non-bank lender of first mortgages. As well as offering property finance, First Mortgage Trust also has two investment funds available to investors offering consistent returns.
Contact Details:
Phone: 0800 321 113
Email: team@fmt.co.nz
Website: fmt.co.nz/
Award Sponsor
Since 1990, Mike Pero Mortgages has been living and breathing the world of property and finance in New Zealand. Mike Pero Advisers process in excess of $1 billion in loans for Kiwis each year and we've helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners and investors achieve their financial goals.
Contact Details:
Phone: 0800 500 123
Website: www.mikepero.co.nz
Award Sponsor
Prospa Group Limited (ASX: PGL) is a leading fintech with a commitment to unleash the potential of small business in Australia and New Zealand. We do this through an innovative approach to developing simple, stress free and seamless financial management products and services.
Since 2012, we have provided more than $3 billion of funding to support the growth and operations of thousands of small businesses. We also work with more than 12,000 trusted brokers, accountants, and aggregator partners, to deliver flexible funding solutions to their clients.
At Prospa, we're serious about our impact on our people, communities, and the planet. Our core company value of One Team is backed by our recognition as a Great Place To Work in Australia and a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women.
Contact Details:
Address:
The Mezzanine Floor, 19-21 Como Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand
Phone: 0800 005 834
Email: partners@prospa.co.nz
Website: www.prospa.com
Award Sponsor
At ASB, we are dedicated to our purpose of accelerating financial progress for all New Zealanders. It’s the ‘why’ behind everything we do. We are committed to supporting our customers, people and community as we continue to innovate, so more Kiwis can build the future they want.
Contact Details:
Email: ThirdPartyBanking@asb.co.nz
Website: www.asb.co.nz
Associate Sponsor
Eugene Bartsaikin
Managing Director,
Twine Financial Advisers
Adrienne Begbie
Managing Director,
Prospa
Julius Capilitan
Lending Member Advisory Committee/Managing Director
Financial Advice New Zealand/Century21Financial
Linda Clay
CEO,
Māori Women’s Development
Colleen Dennehy
Network Sales Manager, Mike Pero Mortgages
Dev Dhingra
Founder/CEO/Principal Adviser,
The Fundmaster
Jacque Elias
Director, CEO
Futurebound
Glenys Holden
CEO,
Norfolk Mortgage Trust
Sarah Johnston
CEO, Astute Financial Management
Ping Liu
Chief Risk Officer
UDC Finance
Cath Lomax
Chief Client Officer,
Fisher Funds
Tony Mounce
Director,
Tony Mounce Mortgages & Insurance
Elyce Peters
Director and Mobile Mortgage Adviser, The Mortgage Girls
Katrina Shanks
CEO, Financial Advice New Zealand
Aaron Skilton
CEO,
Liberty Financial
A word from Key Media
Justin Kennedy
Managing Director - APAC
Key Media
On behalf of Bluestone and our white label partner Select, I am extremely proud to once again be the official event partner for the 2023 New Zealand Mortgage Awards.
Recognising and celebrating outstanding achievement in our industry is always important, but perhaps even more so in the current climate.
To all the winners and nominees, I congratulate you for this well-earned recognition and thank you for your contribution to our industry.
Aaron Skilton
Katrina Shanks
Elyce Peters
Tony Mounce
Cath Lomax
Ping Liu
Sarah Johnston
Glenys Holden
Jacque Elias
Dev Dhingra
Colleen Dennehy
Linda Clay
Julius Capilitan
Adrienne Begbie
Eugene Bartsaikin
Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognise and celebrate excellence in the mortgage industry.
2023 Judging panel
Award Sponsor
Award Sponsor
Award Sponsor
Award Sponsor
Award Sponsor
EVENT PARTNER
Co-event partner
Associate sponsor
By the organiser of
Co-event partner
Award sponsors
Associate sponsor
By the organiser of
Winners announced
Once the judging was completed, the Excellence Awardee with the highest overall score in each category was named the winner. Winners were announced at an in-person event on 27 April 2023 at the Hilton Auckland and online through NZ Adviser.
THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 2023
HILTON AUCKLAND
Hosted By
Leah Panapa
MC, Presenter and Broadcaster
Entertainment
Agenda
Dress Code:
Business attire
Directions, parking, and transportation:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/aklhihi-hilton-auckland/hotel-location/
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Cocktail style ceremony (drinks and canapes)
7:30 PM
Awards Ceremony and Dinner Banquet
10:30 PM
Post-Party Celebration
Musician
Jarni Blair
The gorgeous and multi-talented Leah Panapa is a woman of many skills. Her infectious personality and sultry tone have seen her rise the ranks throughout her three decades in broadcasting - holding many impressive posts during this time.
Leah’s exceptional broadcasting ability led her to win a whopping 10 radio awards for Best Breakfast Show. For over 10 years she was a cornerstone of The Morning Rumble breakfast show on The Rock. From there she moved to The Sound, hosting the nationwide breakfast show for over three years with Mark Richardson. Leah moved to the rarefied air that is ‘talk radio’ in 2019, initially solo host of her own show Magic Nights, then moved to the coveted afternoon slot with co-host Danny Watson.
In March 2022 newly branded talk radio station Today FM was launched by Mediaworks and Leah was reunited with her friend and former The Sound co-host Mark Richardson in the afternoon show 12pm – 4pm weekdays, to unpack the important topics and laugh about the absurd.
As comfortable behind the microphone as on stage, Leah is an excellent MC and host. Leah is renowned for her fantastic sense of humour, warm nature and ability to woo any crowd. She has a real affinity with engaging the audience, encompassing the perfect balance between professionalism and downright hilarity. She has a knack for reading a room - and her years of live radio experience have enabled her to effortlessly think and react on the fly.
Leah has hosted a wide array of events over the years; from hospitality and charity bashes, to the NZ Law Awards and most recently the 2022 ACT Party Conference. She has also held her own in debates against the likes of comedians Jeremy Corbett and Gary McCormick, and tackled live stand-up performances on Comedy Central TV & TV3 to rave reviews.
MC, Presenter and Broadcaster
Leah Panapa
Meet Jarni Blair, a highly skilled and passionate guitarist from New Zealand with over 18 years of experience in the music industry. Jarni's love for music was inspired by his father, who has played in bands since the late 60s. At the young age of ten, Jarni began performing and continued playing in various bands throughout his school years. He transitioned to solo performance and song writing in his final year of high school, which he pursued for quite some time before returning to collaborate with other bands and artists. Jarni's music is a fusion of pop singer-songwriter, jazz, and blues, which he describes as "Geek Pop." He is heavily influenced by legends such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. He also puts his own spin on cover songs, keeping the essence of the originals while adding his own unique flavours. Jarni's successful career includes playing and writing music alongside big names such as Kings, Jason Kerrison, The Jordan Luck Band, and his single 'Higher Than The Sky' was on the NZ Music charts for a couple of weeks in 2020. Currently, he plays with one of NZ's household names, 'Summer Thieves', who have amassed a significant following over the past decade. They are currently touring and playing with L.A.B. on their Australian Tour. With plenty of opportunities on the horizon, Jarni's future in music looks promising. He continues to showcase his talent and passion for music, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who has the pleasure of experiencing his performances.
Multi-talented music maestros Mark Cunningham and Allister Meffan make for a contemporary and soulful two piece ensemble
Jarni Blair
Agenda
Dress code:
Business attire
Directions, parking, and transportation:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/aklhihi-hilton-auckland/hotel-location/
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Cocktail style ceremony (drinks and canapes)
7:30 PM
Awards Ceremony and Dinner Banquet
10:30 PM
Post-Party Celebration
Hosted By
Leah Panap
MC, Presenter and Broadcaster
Entertainment
Musician
Jarni Blair
The gorgeous and multi-talented Leah Panapa is a woman of many skills. Her infectious personality and sultry tone have seen her rise the ranks throughout her three decades in broadcasting - holding many impressive posts during this time.
Leah’s exceptional broadcasting ability led her to win a whopping 10 radio awards for Best Breakfast Show. For over 10 years she was a cornerstone of The Morning Rumble breakfast show on The Rock. From there she moved to The Sound, hosting the nationwide breakfast show for over three years with Mark Richardson. Leah moved to the rarefied air that is ‘talk radio’ in 2019, initially solo host of her own show Magic Nights, then moved to the coveted afternoon slot with co-host Danny Watson.
In March 2022 newly branded talk radio station Today FM was launched by Mediaworks and Leah was reunited with her friend and former The Sound co-host Mark Richardson in the afternoon show 12pm – 4pm weekdays, to unpack the important topics and laugh about the absurd.
As comfortable behind the microphone as on stage, Leah is an excellent MC and host. Leah is renowned for her fantastic sense of humour, warm nature and ability to woo any crowd. She has a real affinity with engaging the audience, encompassing the perfect balance between professionalism and downright hilarity. She has a knack for reading a room - and her years of live radio experience have enabled her to effortlessly think and react on the fly.
Leah has hosted a wide array of events over the years; from hospitality and charity bashes, to the NZ Law Awards and most recently the 2022 ACT Party Conference. She has also held her own in debates against the likes of comedians Jeremy Corbett and Gary McCormick, and tackled live stand-up performances on Comedy Central TV & TV3 to rave reviews.
MC, Presente and Broadcaster
Leah Panapa
Meet Jarni Blair, a highly skilled and passionate guitarist from New Zealand with over 18 years of experience in the music industry. Jarni's love for music was inspired by his father, who has played in bands since the late 60s. At the young age of ten, Jarni began performing and continued playing in various bands throughout his school years. He transitioned to solo performance and song writing in his final year of high school, which he pursued for quite some time before returning to collaborate with other bands and artists. Jarni's music is a fusion of pop singer-songwriter, jazz, and blues, which he describes as "Geek Pop." He is heavily influenced by legends such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. He also puts his own spin on cover songs, keeping the essence of the originals while adding his own unique flavours. Jarni's successful career includes playing and writing music alongside big names such as Kings, Jason Kerrison, The Jordan Luck Band, and his single 'Higher Than The Sky' was on the NZ Music charts for a couple of weeks in 2020. Currently, he plays with one of NZ's household names, 'Summer Thieves', who have amassed a significant following over the past decade. They are currently touring and playing with L.A.B. on their Australian Tour. With plenty of opportunities on the horizon, Jarni's future in music looks promising. He continues to showcase his talent and passion for music, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who has the pleasure of experiencing his performances.
Musician
Jarni Blair
Commemorative Guide
METHODOLOGY
JUDGING PANEL
AWARD CATEGORIES
SPONSORS
AGENDA
Commemorative Guide
METHODOLOGY
JUDGING PANEL
AWARD CATEGORIES
SPONSORS
Find out more
Winners
Once the judging was completed, the Excellence Awardee with the highest overall score in each category was named the winner. Winners were announced at an in-person event on 27 April 2023 at the Hilton Auckland and online through NZ Adviser.
Judging
All submissions from our excellence awardees are forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising mortgage and finance industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess and vote for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria.
Confirmation of Excellence Awardees
Once the research was completed, Excellence Awardees were selected in each category and notified via email. Excellence Awardees were also announced on the NZ Adviser website on 20 February.
Research
The New Zealand Mortgage Awards team conducted due diligence, drawing on research and editorial insights to verify the information submitted in the nominations.
Nominations
Nominations were opened for submission via an online portal. The awards were free to enter. Individuals and companies were able to nominate themselves or their peers in unlimited categories. Submissions focused on mortgage professionals and their achievements over the last 12 months.
Methodology
EVENT PARTNER
Select Adviser of the Year – Independent & Franchise
Angela Downie, Platinum Mortgages New Zealand
This award recognises the best adviser in independent and franchise businesses. Advisers may nominate themselves. The NZMA team will also consider input from aggregators and brokerages. Weight will be placed on nominations that come from those in a position to assess the nominee’s performance objectively.
Award sponsor
At Select, we believe that every Kiwi should have the chance to own their home. That’s why our home loans offer a wide range of solutions that cater to borrowers’ changing financial needs.
Select home loans are currently exclusively available via the New Zealand Financial Services Group (NZFSG) and Loan Market network of mortgage advisers.
Contact details:
Phone: 0800 002 207
Email: sales.support@bluestone.net.nz
Website: www.selecthome.co.nz/advisers/
Excellence Awardees
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Cameron Marcroft, Loan Market Central
Eugene Bartsaikin, Twine Financial Advisers
Jaz Bedi, The Mortage & Loan Guru
Jessica Pronk, The Mortgage Supply Co - Titirangi
Karen Renwick, Mortgage Link Albany
Nathan Miglani, NZ Mortgages
Zebunisso Alimova, Mike Pero Mortgages (Wellington/Kapiti)
Angela Downie
Platinum Mortgages New Zealand
Cameron Marcroft
Loan Market Central
Eugene Bartsaikin
Twine Financial Advisers
Jaz Bedi
The Mortage & Loan Guru
Jessica Pronk
The Mortgage Supply Co - Titirangi
Karen Renwick
Mortgage Link Albany
Nathan Miglani
NZ Mortgages
Zebunisso Alimova
Mike Pero Mortgages (Wellington/Kapiti)
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Twine Financial Advisers
Eugene Bartsaikin
WINNER
Excellence Awardees
Angela Downie, Platinum Mortgages New Zealand
Cameron Marcroft, Loan Market Central
Jaz Bedi, The Mortage & Loan Guru
Jessica Pronk, The Mortgage Supply Co - Titirangi
Karen Renwick, Mortgage Link Albany
Nathan Miglani, NZ Mortgages
Zebunisso Alimova, Mike Pero Mortgages (Wellington/Kapiti)
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This award recognises the best adviser in independent and franchise businesses. Advisers may nominate themselves. The NZMA team will also consider input from aggregators and brokerages. Weight will be placed on nominations that come from those in a position to assess the nominee’s performance objectively.
Twine Financial Advisers
Eugene Bartsaikin
WINNER
EVENT PARTNER
