Lithgow is best know for his role in TV comedy 3rd Rock From the Sun, for which he won three Emmy Awards. He also won Emmys for his roles in Dexter and The Crown and has been nominated for two Oscars.
Based on a short story by Owen Marshall, The Rule of Jenny Pen follows a judge (Rush) recovering from a stroke in an assisted living faciality, who encounters a psychopathic patient who uses a hand puppet to abuse fellow residents (played by Lithgow). Director James Ashcroft is nominated for Best Director: Drama Feature and Best Script: Feature, alongside Eli Kent.
Rush and Lithgow will go up against Kiwi actors Julian Dennison in Uproar and Ed Oxenbould for South Head.
And The Rule of Jenny Pen leads the nominations, with nine, alongside Tinā and Ka Whawhai Tonu.
Also among the nominees are Herald NOW’s Ryan Bridge, who is nominated for Best Presenter News and Current Affairs, alongside Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame, Moana Maniapoto and John Campbell.
The Herald’s Michael Morrah has been celebrated for his reporting with a nomination for Reporter of the Year, a category that highlights journalistic excellence, alongside Indira Stewart, Paula Penfold and Barbara Dreaver.
The Herald’s Michael Morrah. Photo / NZ Herald
The reality TV categories will see The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes, Match Fit: Union vs League, and The Traitors New Zealand – which is due to start filming their third season with new host Madeline Sami – go head-to-head for the Best Reality Series gong.
Kelly Martin, NZSA committee member and CEO of South Pacific Pictures, says the NZSA panel were thrilled with the level of talent and achievement among the 700 entries.
“The response to the awards has surpassed expectations – especially with the exciting inclusion of film, which has brought a wonderful new energy to this year’s awards. Each of our finalists stand as a testament to the talent and innovation that make our screen community so extraordinary.”
For a full list of nominees, see the list below:
New Zealand On Air Best Drama Series
The Brokenwood Mysteries
Dead Ahead
The Gone Season 2
A Remarkable Place to Die
New Zealand Film Commission Best Feature Film
Tinā
Ka Whawhai Tonu
We Were Dangerous
New Zealand Film Commission Best Short Film
First Horse
Lea Tupu’anga | Mother Tongue
Rochelle
Best Comedy Programme
Vince
Madam
Happiness
Best Factual Series
Hyundai Country Calendar
Moving Houses
Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club
New Zealand On Air Best Documentary – Series
Motuhaketanga
Live and Let Dai
Patrick Gower: On Ice
New Zealand Film Commission Best Documentary – Feature
Never Look Away
Stylebender
Maurice and I
The Lie
Best Reality Series
The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes
The Traitors New Zealand
Match Fit: Union vs League
Best Current Affairs Programme
Te Ao with Moana
The Hui
Mata with Mihingarangi Forbes
New Zealand On Air Best Children’s Programme
First Place
Secrets at Red Rocks
Kea Kids News
Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme
Māori All Blacks: Bound by Blood
Homesteads Season 2
Dead Ahead
Mata Reports
Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme
Ruamata: It’s More Than Hockey 2
Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga
End of the Valley
New Zealand On Air Best Pasifika Programme
Being Niuean
Fight For The Pacific
We The South: The Manukau Rovers Story
First Place
Best News Coverage
Tasman Flooding – Phil O’Sullivan, Laura Barnsley, Tati Urale (1 News / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+)
America’s Cup Coverage – Lisette Reymer, Lucy Thomson, Lawrence Smith, Claire Watson, Tom Bartlett (Stuff.co.nz / ThreeNews / Three & ThreeNow)
Hikoi ki Paremata – Roihana Nuri, Ripeka Timutimu, Peata Melbourne (Aukaha News / Tahu News / Te Reo o Te Uru / Te Ao Māori News / Te Karere)
Kiingitanga Tangihanga – Phil O’Sullivan, Laura Barnsley, Tati Urale (1 News / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+)
Best Sports Programme
Māori All Blacks: Bound by Blood – Joe Whitehead, Kimberley Hurley
Grit & Glory – Robyn Scott-Vincent, Peter Brook Bell, Dan Salmon
We The South: The Manukau Rovers Story – Mark Malaki-Williams, Ross Karl
Best Live Event Coverage
Matariki mā Puanga 2025 – Brendon Butt (Kahawai Productions / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+ / Sky Open / RNZ / Stuff / IWI Radio / Pacifica TV)
Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga – Brendon Butt, Bailey Mackey (Pango Productions / TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+)
Te Raa Nehu o te Tangihanga o te Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII – Ngatapa Black & Mokotini Templeton (Waikato-Tainui / Whakaata Māori & MĀORI+)
Soljans Estate Winery Best Entertainment Programme
Taskmaster New Zealand Season 5
Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee Season 2
Whakanuia
Best Director: Documentary/Factual Series
Mike Gattanella – Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne
Rachel Currie – Diary of a Junior Doctor
Kathleen Mantel – Motuhaketanga
Best Director: Documentary Feature
Katie Wolfe – The Haka Party Incident
Julian Arahanga – The Stolen Children of Aotearoa
Rick Harvie and Jane Mahoney – Maurice and I
Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama Series
Carey Carter – End of the Valley
Peter Meteherangi Tikao Burger – The Gone Season 2
Chris Parker – Double Parked Season 2
Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand Best Director: Drama Feature
Miki Magasiva – Tinā
Lee Tamahori – The Convert
James Ashcroft – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Best Actress in a Series
Antonia Prebble – Double Parked Season 2
Madeleine Sami – Double Parked Season 2
Miriama Smith – Dead Ahead
Equity New Zealand Best Actress in a Feature
Elizabeth Hawthorne – The Moon is Upside Down
Anapela Polata’ivao – Tinā
Victoria Haralabidou – The Moon is Upside Down
Erana James – We Were Dangerous
Best Supporting Actress in a Series
Kura Forrester – Double Parked Season 2
Natalie Medlock – Vince
Ariāna Osborne – Madam
Best Supporting Actress in a Feature
Miriama Smith – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Antonia Eaton – Tinā
Rima Te Wiata – We Were Dangerous
Best Actor in a Series
Stephen Lovatt – Shortland Street
Richard Flood – The Gone Season 2
Xavier Horan – Dead Ahead
Best Actor in a Feature
Geoffrey Rush – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Ed Oxenbould – Head South
John Lithgow – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Julian Dennison – Uproar
Best Supporting Actor in a Series
Martin Henderson – Madam
Dominic Ona-Ariki – Double Parked Season 2
Peter Hambleton – Happiness
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature
Beulah Koale – Tinā
George Henare – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Temuera Morrison – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Reporter of the Year
Indira Stewart – TVNZ+ In-Depth
Paula Penfold – ThreeNews
Michael Morrah – Michael Morrah Investigates
Barbara Dreaver – 1 News
Best Presenter: Entertainment
Jeremy Corbett – 7 Days
Brynley Stent & Kura Forrester – Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club
Guy Montgomery & Sanjay Patel – Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee Season 2
Dave Letele – Heavyweight with Dave Letele
Best Presenter: News and Current Affairs
Ryan Bridge – HeraldNOW
Moana Maniapoto – Te Ao with Moana
Jack Tame – Q+A with Jack Tame
John Campbell
Best Editing: Documentary / Factual – Series
Justin Hawkes – Live and Let Dai
Tim Woodhouse & James Brown – Choir Games
Simon Coldrick – Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne
Best Editing: Documentary / Factual – Feature
Sacha Campbell – Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara
Josh Yong – Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua Two Worlds
Richard Lord – Maurice and I
Best Editing: Drama – Series
Bryan Shaw – The Gone Season 2
Lisa Hough – Happiness
Luke Earl & Rhys Green – Double Parked Season 2
Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand Best Editing: Drama – Feature
Gretchen Peterson – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Chris Plummer & Martin Brinkler – Joika
Luke Haigh – The Convert
Best Camerawork: Documentary / Factual – Series
Sean Loftin – Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the Line
Tom Fowlie – Homesteads Season 2
Dominic Fryer – Live and Let Dai
Best Camerawork: Documentary / Factual – Feature
Tim Flower – Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua Two Worlds
Evan Howell – Unmasking The Monsters
Brandon Te Moananui – The Stolen Children of Aotearoa
Best Director: Multi-Camera
Marcus Hildyard – Constellation Cup – Silver Ferns v Australia
Marcus Kennedy – 2024 Bledisloe Cup – Wellington
Matt Barrett – Anzac 2025
Mark Kearns – 2025 Super Rugby – Crusaders v Blues
Images and Sound Best Cinematography: Drama Series
Dave Cameron NZCS ACS – Madam
Simon Tutty – Secrets at Red Rocks
Dave Cameron NZCS ACS – A Remarkable Place to Die
Images and Sound Best Cinematography: Feature Film
Maria Inés Manchego NZCS – We Were Dangerous
Gin Loane – The Convert
Richard Bluck – Ash
Andrew McGeorge – Tinā
Best Contribution to a Soundtrack: Series
Pinnacle Post Sound Team – Time Bandits
Tom Miskin, Melanie Graham, Mike Bayliss, Steve Finnigan – Secrets at Red Rocks
Envy Studios – Badjelly
Screen Music & Sound Guild of New Zealand Best Contribution to a Soundtrack: Feature
John McKay & Matthew Lambourn – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Nick Buckton – Joika
Dick Reade & Bruce Langley – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Liquid Studios – Tinā
Images and Sound Best Original Score – Series
Plan 9 – Janet Roddick, Steve Roche, David Donaldson – A Remarkable Place to Die
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – The Gone Season 2
Stephen Gallagher & David Long – Secrets At Red Rocks
Images and Sound Best Original Score – Feature
Dana Lund – Joika
John Gibson – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Arli Liberman & Tiki Taane – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Sebastien Pan – Tinā
Best Post Production Design – Series
Alana Cotton – Colourist – Secrets at Red Rocks
Jemma Lee – Colourist – End of the Valley
Damian McDonnell – Colourist – Time Bandits
Best Post Production Design – Feature
Carol Petrie, Jacob Leaf & Brenton Cumberpatch – VFX – Ash
Alana Cotton – Colourist – Ash
James Gardner – Colourist – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Best Production Design – Series
Nick Williams – The Gone Season 2
Kylie Tiuka – End Of The Valley
John Allan – Under the Vines Season 3
Best Production Design – Feature
Shayne Radford – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Nick Williams & Guy Moana – The Convert
Miro Harré – We Were Dangerous
Best Costume Design – Series
Tania Klouwens – The Brokenwood Mysteries
Sammy Salsa – Madam
Sarah Voon – My Life is Murder
Best Costume Design – Feature
Liz McGregor – The Convert
Te Ura Hoskins – Ka Whawhai Tonu
Daisy Marcuzzi – We Were Dangerous
Best Makeup Design – Series
Kevin Dufty – Happiness
Kevin Dufty – The Brokenwood Mysteries
Terese Tomlins – Dead Ahead
Best Makeup Design – Feature
Verity Griffiths & Brydie Stone – Forgive Us All
Frankie Karena & Don Brooker – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Gabrielle Jones – The Convert
Australian Writers’ Guild Authorship Collecting Society Best Script: Series
Victoria Boult – n00b
Richard J Curtis & Lea Mclean – End of the Valley
Tim Balme – The Brokenwood Mysteries
Dan Musgrove – Happiness
New Zealand Writers Guild Best Script: Feature
Miki Magasiva – Tinā
Eli Kent & James Ashcroft – The Rule of Jenny Pen
Christine Jeffs – A Mistake