Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell (left) cuts the ribbon with Tompkins Wake partner Theresa Le Bas to officially launch the 2026 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell (left) cuts the ribbon with Tompkins Wake partner Theresa Le Bas to officially launch the 2026 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
Other regions are “jealous” of Rotorua’s Business Awards, says a city business leader.
Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short said other centres “simply don’t understand how a city the size of Rotorua can attract so many entries and deliver such an extraordinary event.”
She was speaking as the 2026Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards officially opened for nominations and entries at last night’slaunch event at Tompkins Wake.
Short said more than 800 people were expected at this year’s awards, attendance having evolved “significantly” from the 200 people iat the first event in 1991.
“But the innovation, determination, and community spirit within Rotorua businesses has remained constant,” Short said.
Among the award categories are tourism, professional services, innovation, manufacturing, sustainability, leadership and workplace wellbeing.
This year’s theme is pounamu, symbolising “strength, resilience, prestige, and legacy”– values Short said underpinned “who we are” as a business community.
The awards held a “special place” for her.
Short’s involvement began in 2006 when she became the “convenor of judges”, a role she held for several years.
She considered it the “ultimate job”, giving her the “privilege of seeing first-hand the incredible businesses operating right here in Rotorua”.
Her experience as a judge, an entrant and now through the chamber had shown her how the “true value” went beyond the “incredible celebration night”.
The “real gold happens” in the months leading up to the event.
“It’s the businesses taking time out to genuinely reflect on themselves ... allowing themselves to be vulnerable.
“It’s opening the doors and letting others come in to question, to challenge, critique, and offer perspective.”
Event MC and The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM host Paul Hickey (right) with Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short, who says other regions are “jealous” of the Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
She said the awards were “where transformation happens” as businesses take those learnings and become better.
Rotorua Canopy Tours took out three categories at the Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards, including the Supreme Award. Photo / Michelle Cutelli
Speaking at last night’s event, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell acknowledged times had been “tough”, with uncertainty and added pressures including “expensive” fuel prices.
It could be tempting to “hide away”.
“This is when we need to come together the most,” she said.
“Surviving what at times feels catastrophic is what we do.”
There was “no better way” to finish off the year than by celebrating local businesses’ “grit” and “resilience”, Tapsell said.
Key dates for the 2026 awards programme include:
Entries open: May 7
Entries close: July 5
Finalists announced: August 12
Awards Gala: October 31
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.
