Award Winners - 2022

Congratulations to our award winners for 2022.

Our Category Partners 2026

Welcome to our partners for ANZ Business of The Year 2026

Become an Event Partner

Service Partners

Thanks to our event service partners for their support

0064 3 307 7700

2 Baring Square East, Ashburton 7700

Council partners with ANZ for business awards

April 17, 2025

Ashburton District Council has again welcomed ANZ bank as the naming partner for the 2026 Business of the Year Awards.

Ashburton district event wins prestigious national award!

September 8, 2024

Mid Canterbury’s event management and promotions company Rí Rá Events, working in partnership with the Ashburton District Council has picked up a prestigious New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) award for, “Best Local Government Event” for their production of the ANZ Business of The Year Awards 2024. Rí Rá Events attended the NZEA awards gala dinner in Palmerston North on Tuesday 27 th August to collect the award. The event also received “special mention” in the “Best Business Event” category on the evening. The ANZ Business of The Year Awards was held in February 2024 at the Ashburton Aviation Museum and 375 guests attended the gala awards dinner. The overall objective of the event was to promote the Ashburton District as a great place to do business. Rí Rá events have already commenced work on the 2026 Business of the Year Awards event welcoming ANZ Bank onboard once again for the journey. Speaking about the awards, director Colm McGrath said, “We’re delighted to win a New Zealand Event Association Award for this event. We believe it proves that Mid Canterbury can and does deliver great events. It was a pleasure to work with the economic development and events team from Ashburton District Council on this project” Rí Rá events & Ashburton District Council were shortlisted as finalists in July and competed against the following events, Local Wild Food Festival, Whakatāne District Council, Taste Hastings, Hastings District Council , TSB Festival of Lights Winter Pop Up, New Plymouth District Council and Waitangi Day 2024, Porirua City to win this award. Founded in 2019 by two Irish kiwis, Gary Manning & Colm McGrath Rí Rá Events produces and promotes events predominantly in the Mid Canterbury region. It’s key clients include The Embassy of Ireland, The Ashburton District Council, ANZ Bank, Ashburton Toyota and The New Zealand Law Society. The phase Rí Rá roughly translates from Gaeilge to English as ‘fun’.

EVENT TICKETS - 2026

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Award Winners - 2022

Excellence in Primary Industries

Excellence in Manufacturing

Excellence in Tourism

Excellence in Not for Profit

Excellence in Export

Excellence in Technology and Innovation

Bevan Rickerby Future Business Leader Award

People’s Choice for Retail

The Supreme Award 2022

Our Category Partners 2026

Service Partners

Council partners with ANZ for business awards

Ashburton district event wins prestigious national award!