awards
2023: Winner, Feature Writer of the Year (long-form), Voyager Media Awards (NZ’s national media awards.
2022: American Geophysical Union Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Feature Writing—Honorable Mention for “Swamp Sentinels.”
Judges’ comments: “This was a beautifully told story about climate history and the importance of conservation, told from the perspective of a specific tree.”
2022: New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists’ Rongo Award for Excellence in Food and Fibre Journalism, “for her world-class feature on the recovery of the southern bluefin tuna population.”
2022: “Swamp Sentinels” selected for the anthology Best Australian Science Writing 2022, published by NewSouth Publishing.
2022: Winner, Best Journalist, New Zealand Magazine Awards
Judges’ comments:
A writer at the top of her game, Kate crafts compelling stories on issues of critical importance – including climate change and environmental sustainability – and does it in such a fair, balanced and accurate manner that she helps engender trust in magazine journalism. She substantiates her opinions and verifies her facts, skillfully weaving complex scientific detail into her engaging prose.
2020: Winner, Environmental/Sustainability Reporting, New Zealand Media Awards
Judges’ comments:
‘Kate’s entry was spectacular. In particular, the depth and scale of her piece on the fishing industry made for a riveting read. Kate's ability to set the scene instantly draws you in — allowing the reader to connect deeply with the piece and feel as though they are part of her journey to explore complicated issues.
Overall, these stories were accessible and engaging, leaving room for the reader to think about how their own actions may make a difference. Both stories are a credit to long-form journalism, accompanied by stunning images and giving the author space to be critical and thoughtful about the topics without risking a loss of interest. Kate is a credit to this field!’
2019: Joint Runner-up, Science and Technology Reporting, New Zealand Media Awards
2018: Winner, Feature Writer of the Year, New Zealand Media Awards
2018: Winner, Science and Technology Reporting, New Zealand Media Awards
2017: Winner, Science and Technology Reporting, New Zealand Media Awards