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The Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) has recognised excellence in venue management with the presentation of its 2023 Entertainment Venue Awards.

Presented live at a spectacular awards gala evening in Dunedin during its 2023 Annual Conference, , the Awards were presented in eight categories, with finalists drawn from across the country.

Ticketmaster Small Venue of the Year
Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre 

EVANZ Medium Venue of the Year
Te Pae, Christchurch

Tompkins Wake Large Venue of the Year
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Momentus Technologies Rising Star of the Year
Marzena Orlecka, Te Pae

Te Whatu Ora Health Promotion Team Member of the Year
Dane Fletcher, Toitoi

VMA Leader of the Year
Gerry Keating, The Globe Theatre

Strawberry Sound Supplier of the Year
Te Whatu Ora - Health Promotion

EVANZ Contribution to the Industry
Greg Innes

Toitoi Wins Two National Industry Awards
Securing two awards at the event, a press release from the Toitoi - Hawkes Bay Arts and Events Centre expressed delight at the “recognition of their commitment to the Hastings and Hawke’s Bay community, and its work towards creating career pathways in the events industry.”

The press release also noted that the awards also acknowledged “Toitoi’s efforts to use arts and entertainment events as a means of supporting the region in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Named finalists in the four categories it entered, the venue won Small Venue of the Year, and its Technical Manager, Dane Fletcher, was named Team Member of the Year.

It is the second time Toitoi has been named Small Venue of the Year, having also been recognised in 2021.

Judging was undertaken by a panel of judges assembled from leading entertainment and events organisations and EVANZ Board members.

A small venue is defined as one which has fewer than 1000 seats, with Toitoi’s Opera House seating 979.

Images: (Top, from left) Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre’ sGlen Pickering, Lara Paaymans and Megan Peacock Coyle at the EVANZ Awards in Dunedin last night (credit: Allison Images) and Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, named Tompkins Wake Large Venue of the Year at the awards (below).

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