For the third year in a row, the Weekend Sun photographer John Borren has been named Best Photographer at the New Zealand Community Newspaper Association Awards.

The accolade - which John also won in 2021 and 2022 - was announced at the association’s awards night on May 24. The runner-up was Troy Baker of Beacon Media Group.

Judges’ comments on John’s portfolio of six photographs say: “Outstanding photography for a community newspaper. Stunning composition and colour. These are images that would stop a reader in their tracks and demand they engage with the page. Extremely high-quality work”.

Responding to the win, John says: “After 40 years, I still treasure that magic moment when a good picture presents itself to a photographer and I then see it on the front page. I still get the buzz.”

The Weekend Sun editor Merle Cave says John is talented, intuitive, professional, passionate and immensely skilled at photography. “He really has a unique way of capturing people that brings their stories to life on the page. As such, the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty community is so lucky to have the quality of photographer we have in John. A massive congratulations to John for being recognised nationally for his talents.”