With less than three weeks to go, New Zealand's Voyager Media Awards are urging first-timers to 'give it a go'.

Entries close at midnight on February 20 for the country's major journalism awards, which recently announced a new premier sponsor.

With a different mix of judges each year for the 68 categories - including some new ones - "you might be surprised," says awards director Jane Phare. And unlike many similar competitions, it costs nothing to enter.

Details and the entry platform are at www.voyagermediaawards.nz where you can also check out new categories, and entry and judging criteria. Entries close at midnight on Tuesday, February 20, and feature writers need to allow time to post or courier copies of your features to the Voyager Media Awards/News Works office.

Winners are to be announced at an awards dinner on May 11 at Cordis, Auckland (formerly The Langham). Tickets go on sale in late March, and finalists and judges will be announced in early April.