September 25, 2001

Key Award Program's Down Under
By Ian McPherson

NZ Internet Awards

The NZ Internet Awards has announced that nominations are closed for the 2001 Awards, as of Sunday August 19, 2001. Now, the finalists will be selected by the Judging Panel, and on Friday August 31 the finalists will be announced and the voting phase will begin.

A web cast is planned for the awards' ceremony. On the evening of October 11, the ceremony will take place live via web cast from Auckland, New Zealand. All finalists, those involved and the public are invited to tune in for what should be an interesting and revealing showcase.

Awards will be announced in series by a range of presenters. Entertainment will be provided by the nominees for "Best New Zealand Internet released single". After each award is announced winners will be able to login to the award's web site to make an "acceptance speech".

Physical awards will be delivered to the winners the following day and press releases containing the winners information and their acceptance speeches will be distributed to the media.  More information is available on the web site at http://www.netawards.org.nz/.

Australian Internet Awards

The Australian Financial Review Australian Internet Awards, Australia's equivalent of the Webby Awards, has posted a "coming soon..." announcement on its website, and announced that it is seeking sponsors for the annual event for 2001.

This will be the 6th annual Australian Financial Review Australian Internet Awards, the premier competition for recognizing the achievements of Australia's most talented and innovative web site owners, developers and designers. Last year the nominations opened on July 3 and closed on August 18, so keep an eye on the site, as there is usually only a month or so to nominate.

The contest will culminate in a gala Awards ceremony in November 2001 after all the judging is completed. The evening will pay tribute to the finest web sites in the country and celebrate Australia's web site innovators. The 2000 winning websites (and winners) can be viewed at http://www.webawards.com.au/index.html.

Potential sponsors should email either Claire Pattinson or Rebecca Blasina at Blackie McDonald.  You may also subscribe to the mail list, which will announce the opening date for entries, at http://www.webawards.com.au/res/maillist.cfm.

Aussie Awards

Aussie Awards  is dedicated to gathering the web site Awards issued by Australian sites into one area. All members need to be Australian, including expatriates, and visitors may apply for awards by following the links to the member sites.

Coral Edwards, who built and maintains the site, has done a good job on the layout, and the navigation is simple and effective. If you're an Australian award master, join up and get a listing. I did!

Ian McPherson
DownUnder Editor