Supreme Award for International Business (chosen from the winners of all categories)

The New Zealand Merino Company Limited

He kai kei aku ringa
for Māori Excellence in Export

Kono

An associated business of Wakatū Incorporation, Kono is a family-owned Māori food and beverage producer with a global consumer focus.  Kono farms 530 hectares of land and sea in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions, producing award-winning wine, cider, seafood, fruit, and natural fruit bars. Kono aspires to be the world’s best indigenous food and beverage provider. A connection to Aotearoa’s natural resources underpins its identity as a Māori organisation.  

Inspiring Women Leaders

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Angie Judge: Dexibit

Helen Robinson: Organic Initiative (Oi)

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Angie Judge, Chief Executive of visitor attraction technology firm Dexibit, is recognised in New Zealand and internationally as a leader and mentor for women in technology, with a commitment to diversity, inclusion and creating professional development pathways for aspiring female leaders in tech. She was recognised as a champion for continual learning and development not just in her business, but in her industry and for herself. 

Helen Ribonson’s role as co-founder and CEO of Organic Initiative is the latest chapter in her decades-long leadership journey as an entrepreneur and independent director here and internationally. She is a sustainability, diversity and inclusion champion, focusing Oi on a mission to give women around the world access to safe, sustainable health products. 

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Best Emerging Business

Re-Leased

Re-Leased has a mission to transform the global property industry, by providing game-changing property management cloud software that empowers managers, owners and other key stakeholders to connect anytime and anywhere from any device.

Judges were very impressed with Re-Leased’s achievement so far, with a level of preparation for the future that goes beyond many emerging organisations, and a clear understanding of customers needs and operational requirements for ongoing success.

Highly commended: Method Recycling, Organic Initiative

Best Medium Business

Doyle Sails New Zealand

Doyle Sails has established itself as a global leader in high-performance sails for racing, cruising and superyachts, with a proven track record of design excellence and customer satisfaction over almost 40 years.

Judges described Doyle Sails as a compelling business with great results and even greater potential, with a sales approach driven by precise customer knowledge, and a relentless ambition and drive to win that resonates across the organisation.

Highly commended: Natural Pet Food Group, Tuapeka Gold Print Limited

ANZ Best Large Business

Douglas Pharmaceuticals

Employing 700 staff and working with innovative partners across the pharmaceutical industry, Douglas Pharmaceuticals is a rapidly expanding company with a reputation for high manufacturing standards, quality products and outstanding client service.

Judges identified strategy as a core strength of this business, with an evident desire for continued growth, innovation and success, motivated by a passion and drive to make a difference in people’s lives.

Excellence in Innovation

Bluelab Corporation Limited

Bluelab is a world-recognised leader in technology for water-based plant growing systems – offering meters, controllers and automated systems to support a new wave of commercial hydroponic food production worldwide.

Judges noted Bluelab as a rapid, serial innovator with clear evidence of international results, and were impressed by a business culture and working spaces that demonstrated an end-to-end understanding of innovation in practice.

Highly commended: Dexibit, The New Zealand Merino Company Limited

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Excellence in Design

The New Zealand Merino Company Limited

The New Zealand Merino Company Limited is an integrated sales, marketing and innovation company for New Zealand merino wool, and the world’s leading supplier of ethical wool through its accreditation brand ZQ.

Judges recognised the company’s long-term achievement as an adopter and industry advocate for design thinking, with a collaborative approach across growers and stakeholders to help transform merino fibre from a commodity to a value-added, differentiated product in global markets.

Inspiring Preference for New Zealand

Kono

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As a vertically integrated, family-owned Māori food and beverage exporter, Kono lives and breathes the values of kaitiaki, integrity and ingenuity, and places these intergenerational values at the heart of what they do and how they do it.

Judges praised Kono’s committed and authentic relationships with partners and distributors, their rich storytelling for international audiences, and the collective thinking throughout the business that adds real commercial value from marketing through to distribution.

Highly commended: Ao Skincare

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