NZ tech firms among fastest growing

Steven Newman, chief executive of EROAD, a company that helps other companies manage vehicle fleets, assets and compliance. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Forty-five New Zealand firms are among the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific index was announced in Hong Kong last night and saw seven New Zealand companies make the top 100.

The index ranks companies based on revenue growth over the past three years and Deloitte said New Zealand has the highest representation per capita out of the countries in this year's list.

Transport technology and services company EROAD was the only Kiwi company to make the top 10, with revenue growth of 2746 per cent.

EROAD's chief executive Steven Newman said the company's growth came from developing something "nobody had ever done before".

The company was the first in the world to develop electronic road-user charging for heavy-transport vehicles such as trucks, he said.

Now the concept has been proven in New Zealand, Newman said EROAD was eyeing overseas markets. Online electricity retailer PowerKiwi came in 18th on the index with revenue growth of 1916 per cent while Wellington software firm GreenButton ranked 32nd, posting growth of 1248 per cent.

Deloitte partner Stephen Nicholas, said Kiwi businesses make up almost 10 per cent of all companies on the list and it was proof that New Zealanders are among the best technology entrepreneurs in the region.

"The Technology Fast 500 results illustrate that for innovative Kiwi businesses the relatively small size of the New Zealand market is not a barrier to achieving stellar growth," Nicholas said. "As long as they get their business model right and remain true to their core values, they can compete with the best in the world."

NZ businesses on the 2012 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific index by region:

Wellington:

PowerKiwi, GreenButton, Midas Infomedia, Snipesoft, Powershop, Xero, Snapper Services, Futurix, Optimal Workshop, LifeDirect, Freeman Media, Optimation New Zealand, Trio Software Developments, Tekron, Aura Information Security, Seekom, Telecom Rentals, Red Witch Analog

Auckland:

EROAD, Konnect Net, 2degrees Mobile, MediaCom, World Wide Access, Tomizone, Gopher, ProjectManager.com, Stellar Consulting Group, SnapComms, KernMobile, Dbvisit Software, 2Talk, Potentia, Derceto, The Sleep Store, ClearPoint.

Hamilton:

Shotgun Supplements, Sportsfuel Supplements, SPEED NZ, Reduced to Clear, Quinspread Technologies.

Christchurch:

Trineo, NZ Tax Refunds, Flightcell International, ARANZ Geo, SMTP2GO