Who's in with a chance? NZTE's David Downs talks about the players in front of the judging panel for the NZ International Business Awards.
A range of New Zealand businesses from across the country have today been named finalists for this year's New Zealand International Business Awards.
General category finalists for ANZ's best emerging businesses included Delta Strike International (Christchurch), Haka Tourism Group (Auckland), Timely (Dunedin) and Volpara Health Technologies (Wellington).
Waikato-based Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, 90 Seconds (Auckland), ARANZ Geo (Christchurch) and WhereScape Software (Auckland) were named finalists for ANZ's best medium business category.
The Auckland region dominated finalists for ANZ's best large business category with Cubic Defence New Zealand (Auckland), Gallagher Group (Waikato), GMP Pharmaceuticals Group (Auckland), New Zealand Mint (Auckland), NIG Nutritionals (Auckland), Orion Health (Auckland), Prolife Foods (Waikato) and Tegel Foods (Auckland) all named.
NZTE chief executive Peter Chrisp said celebrating the achievements of New Zealand's top exporters helped to build the country's profile.
"We are again highly impressed by the stories of success within these awards, and the pioneering way these companies apply their tenacity and ingenuity to build their businesses overseas," Chrisp said.
"New Zealand cannot grow by selling to ourselves, so the success of these businesses is not only good for them but also good for New Zealand."
Specialist category finalists include 90 Seconds (Auckland), New Zealand Mint (Auckland), Orion Health (Auckland), and Straker Translations (Auckland) for excellence in innovation, supported by Callahan Innovation.
Haka Tourism Group (Auckland), New Zealand Mint (Auckland) and Tekron International (Wellington) for excellence in marketing, supported by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT).
For excellence in operations and supply chain, GMP Pharmaceuticals (Auckland), New Zealand Mint (Auckland) and Tasman Bay Food Group (Nelson) were named, supported by Kotahi.
Flux Animation Studio (Auckland), Gallagher Group (Waikato), Stabicraft Marine (Invercargill) and Westland Milk Products (Hokitika) for excellence in design, supported by Special Group.
Kiwa Digital (Auckland), Ngai Tahu Tourism (Christchurch) and Straker Translations were named finalists for he kai kei aku ringa for Maori excellence in export, supported by The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Te Puni Kokiri and The Treasury.
A strong export sector is crucial for New Zealand and these companies have proven they have what it takes to achieve success at home and overseas.
Finalists for excellence in leadership catergory supported by KPMG will be announced on November 24 with all New Zealand International Business Award winners.
ANZ New Zealand commercial and agriculture managing director Mark Hiddleston said this year's entries and finalists showed that Kiwi businesses were following the footsteps of other iconic export brands.
"This new generation of export companies is forging paths into new and existing markets with the focus, innovation and determination to succeed that New Zealand exporters are respected around the world for," he said. "At ANZ, we'd like to pay tribute to all this year's entries. A strong export sector is crucial for New Zealand and these companies have proven they have what it takes to achieve success at home and overseas."
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand International Business Awards which are run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to celebrate Kiwi success on the world stage.
ANZ Best Large Business - over $50m:
• Cubic Defence New Zealand (Auckland) • Gallagher Group (Waikato) • GMP Pharmaceuticals Group (Auckland) • New Zealand Mint (Auckland) • NIG Nutritionals (Auckland) • Orion Health (Auckland) • Prolife Foods (Waikato) • Tegel Foods (Auckland)
ANZ Best Medium Business - $10m to $50m:
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tours (Waikato) • 90 Seconds (Auckland) • ARANZ Geo (Christchurch) • WhereScape Software (Auckland)
