A packed Classic Comedy Bar on Auckland’s Queen St saw the 2016 New Zealand Comedy Guild Awards on Tuesday 20th December, and it proved to be a belter of a show. With nominees and winners across a broad range of categories from Best Gag of the Year to Best MC, the night was a brilliant cap off to the year for a growing and ever more inclusive industry.
 
Hosted by last years winner of Best MC, Justine Smith, and ably assisted by Rhys Matthewson, it was a hilarious and slick show with plenty of in jokes tailored to the crowd of comedians.
 
The 2016 Guildies saw the inclusion of a new award “The Ewie”, named in honor of Kiwi comedy legend Ewen Gilmour. Given as a Lifetime Achievement Award, the inaugural winner was fittingly Ewen himself. Much missed by his comedy whanau, the award was presented by his manager and long time friend Hilary Coe and collected by his brother Lyal and mother Janet.

The awards were attended by comedians, friends and family such as Rhys Darby (Hunt For the Wilder People, Flight of the Conchords), Jacinda Ardern (Labour Spokesperson for Arts Culture and Heritage) and Laura Daniel (Funny Girls, Jono & Ben).
 
Chair of the NZ Comedy Guild Debs McSmith said “It was such a great event and showed how far we have developed as an industry. It was particularly special to recognise Scott Blanks, owner of the Classic and regarded as the Godfather of New Zealand Comedy, with the NZ Comedy Guild Medal for his commitment, drive, and dedication to comedy for more than 20 years”
 
The awards are voted for by members of the Comedy Guild and a panel of industry judges. The annual awards have been celebrating the achievements of the comedy industry since 2001.
 
The event was generously sponsored by Karma Cola, Omny Studio and Bigpipe Broadband. Their investment ensured this was the best ceremony in many years.
 
The full list of winners is:
 NZ Comedy Guild Awards 2016 - Winners

Outstanding Contribution to the Comedy Industry

Vaughan King

The Green Roomer

Paul Douglas

“The Classic” Best Comedy Venue

 VKs

Best International Guest

Rich Wilson

Comic Originality

Jesse Griffin

Best Comedy Writer – Live Performance

Rhys Mathewson

Best Improv

Snort

Best Live Show

Rhys Mathewson – Nouveau Rhys

Best Newcomer

Ray O’Leary

Breakthrough Comic of the Year

Patch Lambert

Best MC

Justine Smith

Best Male Comedian

Ben Hurley

Best Female Comedian

Urzila Carlson

Gag of the Year

Pax Assadi

Andrew Kovacevich Memorial Cup for Most Offensive Gag

Brendhan Lovegrove

Kevin Smith Award for International Achievement

Sam Wills / Tape Face

Best Comedy Writing for Film or TV

Taika Waititi – Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Best Comedy TV Performance

Brendhan Lovegrove – Flick Electric Co Comedy Gala

Best Comedy TV Series or Event

7 Days

Best Comedy Web or Radio series, Podcast

Tim Batt & Guy Montgomery – Worst Idea of All Time

Best Comedy Twitterer

Melanie Bracewell - @meladoodle

Best Comedy Blog / Column

Raybon Kan

Best Online Comedy Presence

Frickin’ Dangerous Bro

The ‘Ewie’ Award for Lifetime Achievement

Ewen Gilmour