Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards 2025
Rotorua Canopy Tours has made history at this year’s Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards.
The world-renowned eco-tourism operator was believed to be the first company in the event’s 34-year history to win the Supreme Award twice.
The Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards were presented at a gala event at the Energy Events Centre tonight.
The awards had a total of 59 finalists across 14 categories, with 17 winners receiving awards.
A 24-strong team of judges shortlisted leading entries. Each finalist was in the running for the Supreme Award.
Rotorua Canopy Tours first won the top accolade nine years ago.
Now under new ownership, they have done it again, winning the Manaakitanga Tourism and Hospitality, and Kaitiakitanga Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change categories on the way.
Rotorua Business Chamber president Paul Ingram said Canopy Tours continued to set the benchmark for business excellence, with a combination of vision, innovation and long-term contribution to Rotorua’s economy and environment.
Ingram described their focus as “unwavering”.
He said the business had remained innovative and customer-focused since it first launched its zipline experience 13 years ago, gaining international and local attention for its professionalism and environmental commitment.
Ingram said the company’s focus on safety, leadership, staff development and community engagement created an experience that went “far beyond the tree canopy”.
He said Canopy Tours was a world-class operator whose work had supported the regeneration of native forest and birdlife for future generations.
“We are proud to recognise the whole team’s efforts with the Supreme Award this year,” Ingram said.
Last year Te Puia New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute claimed the Supreme Award at the awards after surviving three of the most tumultuous years in its 60-plus year history during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Category sponsors and winners of this year’s Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards:
PAK’nSAVE Rotorua – CREATIVE ARTS & DESIGN: Te Puia NZMACI Limited Partnership
Bioeconomy Science Institute | Scion Group – INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY: Cetogenix
Ebbett Rotorua – RETAIL: STOKEDNZ
RotoruaNZ – MANAAKITANGA TOURISM & HOSPITALITY: Rotorua Canopy Tours
Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings – PRIMARY MANUFACTURING & BUILDING: Top Gear Trailers
Osbornes Funeral Directors – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: Peak Safety Training
Unison – KAITIAKITANGA ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE CHANGE: Rotorua Canopy Tours
NZME – PEOPLE’S CHOICE: House of Elliott Hairdressing
Te Puia NZMACI Limited Partnership – EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Te Puia NZMACI Limited Partnership – EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (Highly Commended): United First National Real Estate and Property Management
Mountain Jade – BILINGUAL BUSINESS: Arataua Media
Timberlands Limited – WORKPLACE SAFETY AND WELLBEING: Mills-Tui Limited
Montana Food and Events – NOT FOR PROFIT & SOCIAL ENTERPRISE: Taiohi Tūrama – Rotorua Centre for Youth
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology – EMERGING BUSINESS LEADER: Renee Tapsell, Aotearoa Dive
Red Stag Timber – BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR: Jeremy Wells, Kilwell Group
Rotorua Lakes Council – OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO ROTORUA: Bioeconomy Science Institute | Scion Group
Tompkins Wake – SUPREME AWARD: Rotorua Canopy Tours
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.