2010 Gala Dinner photos

The Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards were presented on Tuesday 23rd of March at a glittering gala dinner at The Heritage Auckland’s Grand Tearoom. Click here for the Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards results. Cathay Pacific Travel Photographer of the Year Aaron Smale is pictured here with runner-up Amos Chapple (and last year's winner,) plus the major sponsor for the awards - David Figgins, NZ Country Manager at Cathay Pacific Airways and Emma Robertson, Business Development Manager of Adventure World.

Cathay Pacific Travel Writer of the Year    Steve Braunias with David Figgins of Cathay    Pacific and Emma Robertson of Adventure    World.    Both Steve Braunias and Aaron Smale    win return tickets for two to Johannesburg    travelling with Cathay Pacific, $500 travel    expenses, plus a fabulous safari courtesy of    Adventure World.

Virginia Larson, editor of North & South,    Steve Braunias, winner of Cathay Pacific    Travel Writer of the Year Award,    David Figgins of Cathay Pacific,    Susannah Walker, chief writing judge    from The Age Melbourne Magazine    and Michele Hewitson from the NZ Herald.

Winner of the AA Directions Magazine    Best New Travel Writer of the Year Award    Pippa Strom from Wellington with    Kathryn Webster, editor of AA Directions magazine

Visit Britain and Tourism Ireland Award    for the Best Travel Article Written About    Britain and/or Ireland    Winner: Graham Reid with sponsors    Darragh Walshe of Tourism Ireland and    Sally Holyer of Visit Britain

Interislander Award for the Best    Travel Story written about a Journey    Sponsor Nigel Parry with    Winner: Simon Farrell-Green and    Runner-Up Venetia Sherson

Air Vanuatu and Mangoes resort Award    for the Best Series of Travel Images    Winner: Aaron Smale and Jonas George    from Air Vanuatu

The Jucy Rentals Award for the    Best Travel Image Taken In New Zealand    and Pacific Islands    Khiran Huston of Jucy Rentals    with Winner: Amos Chapple

Whitcoulls Travel Book of the Year Award    Winner: Jane Carswell for Under the Huang    Jiao Tree (on the right)    with Catherine Collins from Whitcoulls and    Runner Up Justin Brown for his book    Bowling Through India - Five Kiwi Blokes    take on India at Cricket

The Whitcoulls Readers Choice Award    Winner: Graham Reid for the Idiot Boy Who    Flew and other stories of Elsewhere    with Catherine Collins from Whitcoulls

Leica Award for the Best Travel Image    taken outside New Zealand    Winner: Amos Chapple with Rhys van Kan    Key Account Manager for Lacklands Ltd,    the NZ agents for Leica cameras

The wildly popular new photography award    AA Directions Magazine Best Travel Image    With People    Winner: Aaron Smale with Kathryn Webster    AA Directions magazine editor.

The Navigate Oceania Award for the    Best Newspaper Travel Article    Winner: Michele Hewitson    Runner up: Greg Dixon    Second Runner Up: Amos Chapple    and Highly Commended: Pamela Wade    pictured here with Karine Thomas (centre)    from Navigate Oceania

Small Luxury Hotels of the World Award    for the Best Magazine Travel Story    Winner: Steve Braunias    Runner up: Liz Light    Second Runner Up: Simon Wilson

Heritage Hotels Award for the Best Travel    Article Written about New Zealand    Winner: Mike White (not present)    Runner up: Virginia Larson with    Second Runner Up: Joanna Wane    and Highly Commended: Simon Wilson

Pamela Wade, Amos Chapple,    Kathryn Webster, Liz Light and Aaron Smale

Liz Light and Ian Herald of Cathay Pacific.

Michele Hewitson and Greg Dixon    Michele won the Navigate Oceania    award for the Best Newspaper Travel Article    and Greg was Runner up

Winner of the Cathay Pacific Travel    Writer of the Year    Steve Braunias and wife Emily Simpson

Mary Galway from Tourism Ireland with    Susan Gibson, Communications Manager of    Heritage Hotels and    Jill Gardner

MC for the evening Oliver Driver with    Te Radar, comedian extraordinaire.

Owen Scott (travel book judge)    with John McCrystal (travel book judge)    and Claire McCall

Fred and Janice Revell    representing the book Down, Across & Up by    Genevieve and Kerrin Revell

Pauline Herbst and Allan Botica

Suzanne Murrell, Joseph Peart of AUT    and Jill Gardner

Two Whitcoulls Travel Book Judges    Owen Scott and Karen Goa