Companies representing Hawke's Bay on the international scene were celebrated last night, at the second annual Hawke's Bay Export Awards.
At the awards dinner, held at The Old Church in Meeanee, Whakatu lighting, furniture, and jewellery designer David Trubridge received the ExportNZ's ASB Exporter of the Year award, and the Napier Port Most Sustainable in Export award.
While Mr Trubridge was not able to attend last night as he had earlier travelled to Auckland TV studios to watch his son William Trubridge break another world freediving world record in the Bahamas, he said his company had entered to see how it measured up alongside other local companies.
"I have always been proud that we can run an international company from Whakatu," he said.
"We joke about having our tagline as Milan, New York, Whakatu ... but I do think it is important to promote this message that you can do this kind of thing without being in Auckland, let alone the middle of Europe."