Media star Holmes to host awards

Broadcaster and author Paul Holmes will MC the Westpac Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards ceremony next month.

Tickets for the award dinner, to be held after the award ceremony in the Hawke's Bay Opera House, have already sold out.

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce chief executive Murray Douglas said now was the time to book. "The dinner tickets have sold out in record time, there are now tickets available only for the cocktail function and awards ceremony, and we expect strong interest for these tickets as well, following the announcement of Paul Holmes as MC."

Mr Holmes was secured by category sponsor Newstalk ZB, the award-winning station in the Radio Network stable. He was the long-standing host of the breakfast show and now has a popular Saturday morning show.

As a Hawke's Bay resident Mr Holmes said many of the finalists are businesses that are familiar. He has an olive oil business sourcing olives from his property Mana Lodge in Poukawa.

The awards on November 3 will showcase and celebrate the many businesses that have previously been awarded the overall business of the year award.

Just how remains a secret until the night, but Mr Douglas said it was important the region celebrated the achievements of local businesses. "We have gone back through the archives and the line up of previous winners is really a who's who, while there will be a lot of excitement on who will win the nine categories and the overall HB Today Business of the Year.

Forty one finalists are contesting the nine categories. The judging team, headed by WHK chief executive Rick Cranswick, are currently visiting the finalists.

Mr Cranswick said all entries represented a high level of innovation and organisation.

The other judges are Bill Amner (WHK), Steve Alexander (WHK), John Hutchison (Plan A Consulting), Richard Wilson (Westpac), Rosemary Newport (Westpac), St John Craner ( TRACTA), Murray Cowan (GROW HR), Adrienne Pierce (SMART) and Glenice Riley (SMART), Shona Jones (Hinemaru Solutions), Mark Carrington (Go-reefers) and Gordon Smith.

Tickets for the cocktail reception are available from the Chamber of Commerce on 876 5938. Tickets $25 + GST.