Awards to celebrate best exporters in Bay

L-R Hamish Whyte, Alasdair MacLeod, Export NZ HB chairman, Miles Fleming, ASB, Robbie Kitney NZL, Graham Hawes, QBE, Andrew Locke, Napier Port and Amanda from Export NZ.

The best in Hawke's Bay exporting are set to be celebrated at what will be the region's second export awards to be staged at a gala event on July 21.

"Exporting is a big part of business in Hawke's Bay and a big contributor to the local economy, so we're delighted we can again showcase the best we have to offer," ExportNZ Hawke's Bay executive officer Amanda Liddle said.

"We're expecting some strong entries following the success of the inaugural awards."

She said last year's ASB Exporter of the Year, Furnware, said it entered because the awards recognised local achievements and entering inspired it to improve.

"And we are hoping entrants this year will have a similar experience."

Entries are open and will run until July 1 for all exporters across the region, from Wairoa in the north to Waipukurau in the south, with three main awards to be contested. The winner in each category will then contest for the supreme ASB Exporter of the Year.

The three categories are the Napier Port Most Sustainable in Export Award, the QBE Most Exciting New Product in Export Award, and the NZL ContainerCo Innovation in Export Award.

Other sponsors of the awards are New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Trinity Hill, Pask Winery, Jetstar, OPure, Business Central and Grundy Productions.

Entrants must have a minimum of $100,000 in export revenue, among other requirements.

They will be required to describe their company and its achievements in export, and part of the judging process will be visits by the judges to each company between July 4 to 13.

The judges have been confirmed as Export Hawke's Bay chairman Alasdair MacLeod, NZ Trade and Enterprise customer director Amanda Martin, ASB head of international trade Mike Atkins and Business Hawke's Bay chief executive Susan White.

"These awards are a great chance for export businesses to expand their business horizons and get inspired to explore further the great potential of Hawke's Bay," Ms Liddle said.

Hawke's Bay companies produce about 9 per cent of New Zealand's port exports, which are worth $4.4 billion a year.

"It's great to be able to recognise those achievements."

The finalists will be named on July 14, and the winners announced on July 21 at a special awards dinner at the Old Church venue at Meeanee.

ExportNZ Hawke's Bay is overseen by Business Central, which represents about 3500 employers across the lower North Island.

Business Central also provides employer, health and safety, and human resources advice, and advocates policies that reflect the interest of the business community.

- Entry forms, criteria details and registration forms for the awards dinner are available on the ExportNZ website hawkesbay.exportnz.org.nz or by contacting Amanda Liddle on amanda@exportnz.org.nz