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Business awards celebrate local

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:28:32 GMT

Locally owned and operated Greg Donaldson Contracting, has won the supreme award at the ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2026.

Specialising in large-scale agricultural contracting and pioneering technology solutions, Greg Donaldson Contracting has grown into one of Mid Canterbury’s most respected businesses.

Ashburton District Mayor Liz McMillan announced the supreme winner at the business awards gala dinner at the Ashburton Aviation Museum on Friday night.

“GDC’s outstanding combination of vision, passion and excellence have made a significant contribution to our community.”

The 2026 Business of the Year Awards were once again sponsored by ANZ, as well as a host of supporting and category sponsors. The awards were first held in 2022 and are a biennial event.

Mayor McMillan said it was an inspirational night, with the awards highlighting the incredible talent and drive right here in our district.

“There are so many success stories happening in our own backyard and they deserve to be recognised and celebrated for their hard work, and determination.”

For more information on all the finalists and winners, visit businessoftheyear.nz .
2026 Category Winners

Excellence in Primary Industries – Large

(Category Partner: Catalyst Performance Agronomy)

Winner: Molloy Agriculture

Highly Commended: Greg Donaldson Contracting

Excellence in Primary Industries – Small

(Category Partner:Catalyst Performance Agronomy)

Winner: Grassroots Dairy Management Graduate Programme

Highly Commended: Heli Rural

Excellence in Export – Small

(Category Partner: ANZCO)

Winner: Fourflax

Highly Commended: Hemprino

Excellence in Export – Large

(Category Partner: ANZCO)

Winner: Kaipak

Excellence in Technology and Innovation

(Category Partner: Croys)

Winner: Greg Donaldson Contracting

Highly Commended: NZ Ski

Excellence in Customer Experience

(Category Partner: Spark)

Winner: Beckley Coachlines and Travel

Highly Commended: Homestead

Emerging Business Award

(Category Partner: Abbott Insurance Brokers)

Winner: Hemprino

Highly Commended: Heli Rural

Excellence in Manufacturing

(Category Partner: Fox Peak Dairy)

Winner: Kaipak

Highly Commended: Fourflax

Excellence in Community Impact

(Category Partner: NZ Bed Company)

Winner: Dear Effie Charitable Trust

Highly Commended: Community House Mid Canterbury

Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing

(Category Partner: Crest Clean)

Winner: RMF Silva

Highly Commended: Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa

Excellence in Environmental Sustainability

(Category Partner: Canstaff)

Winner: NZ Ski

Highly Commended: Greg Donaldson Contracting

Excellence in Retail and Hospitality

(Category Partner: Mt Hutt)

Winner: Smoke Ashburton

Highly Commended: Ruralco

Excellence in Tourism

(Category Partner: Experience Mid Canterbury)

Winner: Hemsworth Estate

Highly Commended: NZ Ski

Excellence in Professional Services

(Category Partner: Tavendale & Partners)

Winner: Rushton Marketing

Highly Commended: Croys

Emerging Business Leader

(Category Partner: Talley’s)

Winner: Michael Donaldson – Greg Donaldson Contracting

Highly Commended: Harriet Bell – Hemprino

Excellence in Business Leadership

(Category Partner: Naylor Love)

Winner: Tony Aitken

Business awards finalists announced

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:46:37 GMT

Judges have shortlisted 50 businesses as finalists for the ANZ Business of the Year Awards, from a total of 116 entries this year. The number of entries is showing consistent growth since the Ashburton District awards were first held in 2022.

Council is partnering with Ri Ra Events to host the awards and Ri Ra marketing director Colm McGrath said the final count had exceeded both expectations.

“It’s great seeing different businesses putting themselves forward each awards along with others coming back to have a go at a new award category.

“The quality of the applicants was very high.”

There were four core judges on the panel who assessed the entries: former Mayor Neil Brown, Jason McCrae from Business Canterbury, Chantelle Quinn of the Braided Rivers Community Trust, and Willie Murney of Murney Trust.

Subject matter experts provided information about specific categories to support the judges' decision-making.

The judges said there was a consistency across all applications - passion for what they do, who they serve, and the wider Mid Canterbury community.

They also said the entries impressed them with in-depth business knowledge and insights.

Winners will be announced at a gala evening at the Ashburton Aviation Museum superhangar on 20 February 2026 - the aviation museum was a winner in the inaugural awards in 2022, taking top spot in the tourism category.

The gala evening is open to all businesses to attend, and tables and tickets for the evening have been released for sale at www.businessoftheyear.nz

Category winners are eligible for the supreme business excellence award, which will be decided by Mayor Liz McMillan.

A full list of finalists is available on the ANZ Business of the Year Awards website .

Event partners for 2026 are ANZ, ANZCO Foods, Abbott Insurance Brokers, Canstaff, Catalyst Performance Agronomy, Crest Clean, Croys, Experience Mid Canterbury, Fox Peak Dairy, Mt Hutt, Naylor Love, New Zealand Bed Company, Spark, Talley's, Tavendale + Partners.

Final call for Business of the Year entries

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:24:28 GMT

Businesses across the Ashburton District are being encouraged to get their entries in for the ANZ Business of the Year Awards, ahead of the close-off on Friday 31 October.

The awards recognise and celebrate excellence in local enterprise and are open to organisations of all sizes and sectors.

Organisers say entries for the 2026 event are tracking well, with the Emerging Business, Excellence in Community Impact and Retail and Hospitality categories enjoying the most entries to date.

They are encouraging entries in the Tourism and Export categories.

Ashburton District Mayor Liz McMillan said the awards provide an important opportunity for businesses to be recognised for their innovation, resilience and contribution to the community.

“The district’s economy and community depend on the innovation and determination of local businesses, and we want to encourage them.

“If you're thinking about entering, please do, as these awards really help shine a light on the amazing work our local businesses do.”

Matt Turner, General Manager of Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa, says the awards increased the visibility of their business following their win in 2024.

“We were honoured to receive four ANZ Business Awards then, and also the prestigious Supreme award.

“This recognition not only elevated our brand visibility but also gave us a valuable opportunity to reflect on our journey and celebrate the dedicated team behind our continued success in delivering exceptional customer service.”

Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa were praised for their world-class visitor experience and commitment to sustainability.

The judges commended the organisation’s vision and the wider impact it has had in supporting tourism in Methven and surrounding areas.

In 2022, the Supreme Award went to The New Zealand Sock Company.

The recognition brought increased public awareness and reinforced the business’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing and product development.

Business of the Year key details:

Entries close: Friday 31 October 2025
Eligibility: Businesses must be based in the Ashburton District and have been operating for at least 12 months
How to enter: Visit businessoftheyear.nz to view categories and submit an application online
Awards Gala: Finalists and winners will be celebrated at a formal event in February 2026, held at the Ashburton Aviation Museum’s Superhangar

All welcome at business awards launch party

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 22:23:05 GMT

Local businesses, big and small, are being invited to a launch party for the Ashburton District’s Business of the Year Awards.

The free event will be at Smoke, on Tuesday 5 August from 6pm, and there’ll be plenty to encourage potential entrants, including some words of inspiration from 2024 supreme winner Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa.

The 2026 awards have 14 categories and entries will open on the night of the launch party. Businesses will have until 31 October to get their entry forms in, with winners announced at a gala dinner on 20 February.

Mayor Neil Brown said the categories ranged from primary industries and environmental sustainability to retail, tourism and customer experience.

“There’ll also be awards for business leaders and emerging businesses. We know businesses of all kinds make this district tick so I encourage them all to come along to the launch and find out more about the awards.

“We can get so busy working in our businesses that we forget to recognise our achievements along the way.”

Council is partnering with event organiser Ri Ra once again to run the awards, and ANZ is back as the event naming partner.

The business awards are held every two years and a gala dinner to announce category winners and a supreme winner will hosted be at the Ashburton Aviation Museum on 20 February, 2026.

The aviation museum was a winner in the 2022 awards, taking top spot in the tourism category, and the gala dinner will be held in their super hangar. The supreme winner that year was NZ Sock Co, which has turned sock-making into a science.

Mayor Brown said the awards were a great opportunity for Council to recognise and offer encouragement to the district’s businesses.

"We have some super operators and it’s great to celebrate their success.”

If you would like to attend the launch party please visit businessoftheyear.nz to grab your free tickets.

Council partners with ANZ for business awards

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 01:14:31 GMT

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

ANZ Senior Manager Jeremy Macavoy said ANZ was proud to be the naming partner of the awards for the third time.

"Every awards season we discover new inspirational stories of home-grown people doing amazing things in the business world.

“It’s great to take a moment to recognise, acknowledge and celebrate local success.”

Mayor Neil Brown said the awards are open to any Mid Canterbury-based business and offer an opportunity to showcase their success to a new audience.

“Whether you’re a sole operator, or trading at scale and whether you’re a new or established business – these awards are for you.”

“Many people who’ve taken part in these awards have said it’s been a great networking event.”

The Ashburton District Council is teaming up again with Rí Rá Events to run the awards.

“They know how to make the event a great experience and an overall fun night for everyone.”

Category winners and a supreme winner will be announced at the gala dinner on 20 February 2026 at the aviation museum’s huge superhangar which also hosted the 2024 awards.

The event category partners for 2026 include:
Abbot Insurance Brokers, ANZCO Foods, Catalyst Performance Agronomy, Crest Clean, Croys Accounting, Experience Mid Canterbury, Mt Hutt, Naylor Love, Spark Business Hub Canterbury, Talley’s, Tavendale and Partners.

The awards are held every two years and entries for the 2026 event will open in the coming months.

For more information visit the ANZ Business of the Year awards website businessoftheyear.nz

Ashburton district event wins prestigious national award!

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 04:58:34 GMT

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’.

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ANZ Business of The Year Awards 2024 Event has been shortlisted as finalists for the 2024 NZEA Awards

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:43:44 GMT

The ANZ Business of the Year Awards, a joint venture between Ashburton District Council & Ri Ra Events has been shortlisted as a finalist for Best Business Event and Best Local Government Event in the New Zealand Event Industry Awards 2024.

Following an extensive twelve-month campaign, 375 guests attended the gala finalist dinner in February 2024 at the Ashburton Aviation Museum at which the Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa were crowned supreme winners. 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.

Council chief executive Hamish Riach was delighted that the business of the year awards have been recognised and said the council enjoyed partnering with Rí Rá to make them happen.

"It’s a good example of council and local businesses working together to promote innovation and celebrate the district as a great place to do business.” The second running of the biennial awards had Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa crowned the supreme winner at the finals gala, held at the Ashburton Aviation Museum in February.

The event had just over 122 entries, a big jump from the inaugural event in 2022, across 14 categories. The overall objective of the event is to promote the Ashburton District as a great place to do business, and Rí Rá Events have already started working towards the 2026 event.

ANZ Business of the Year Award winners fly high

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 18:30:03 GMT

Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa, sourced by the mountains and powered by the sun, has been crowned the Ashburton District's supreme winner at the ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2024.

The new and hugely successful tourism business opened in November 2021 and more than 100,000 people visited in its first year. It has grown from strength to strength, helping drive tourism in Methven and in the whole district.

Ashburton District Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan announced the supreme winner at the business awards gala dinner at the Ashburton Aviation Museum on Friday night.

“It is a real pleasure to see this new tourism operation excel. The idea for hot pools in Methven started in the community and grew and evolved over time, resulting in this fantastic new facility that is drawing local, regional, national and international visitors year round.

“The words vision, courage and perseverance come to mind, as well as congratulations and well deserved.”

The 2024 Business of the Year Awards were once again sponsored by ANZ, as well as a host of supporting and category sponsors. The awards were first held in 2022 and are a biennial event.

Ms McMillan said the Ashburton District had a diverse and successful business community, using technology and new ideas to take products to markets around New Zealand and the world, while providing great customer service locally.

“I want to thank our generous sponsors and congratulate all the local businesses that entered and put themselves out there, as well as all those that open their doors every day to serve the public. Our district’s economy and community depends on you.”

For more information on all the finalists and winners, visit businessoftheyear.nz .

Category winners –

Excellence in Primary Industry

Small: Potato Cooperative
Judges said: Stand-out great business, well connected with local producers and large scale manufacturers.

Large: May Brothers Contracting
Judges said: Showcased themselves as enabling and helping other Mid Canterbury businesses flourish.

Excellence in Customer Experience

Small: Escape Adventures
Judges said: An outstanding business that goes above and beyond for its customers on cycle tours all over the world.

Large: Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa
Judges said: The customer experience systems at Ōpuke are world class.

Excellence in Wellbeing

Small: Juice Signs
Judges said: They showed a robustness in the care and support they provide their team, which then clearly translates to business success.
Large: RX Plastics

Judges said: They really showed fantastic systems and care for workers, changing the way they do things following a tragic incident.
Highly commended: Tavendale and Partners
Judges said: Their care for staff and fresh thinking in a traditional industry was a standout.

Excellence in Community Impact

Kai for Kids
Judges said: This field was full of immensely deserving organisations doing amazing things for our local community, but Kai for Kids was a standout for their structure and strategic direction and how they are responding to a really critical need in our community.

Excellence in Professional Services

Tavendale and Partners
Judges: Their fresh thinking and pivoting were immediately noted. Their questioning about what a local practice needs to look like in the future was evident and they were a clear winner.

Excellence in Tourism
Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa
Judges said: This is a relatively new business, already showing the way. The impact they have had as an enabler for other tourism businesses is phenomenal and they are making a huge impact on our tourism industry, delivering a world class tourism product.

Excellence in Manufacturing

RX Plastics
Judges said: There are a lot of things you can do with a plastic pipe! Their innovation and product design was outstanding.
Highly commended: Cullimore Engineering
Judges said: Their engineering products are different, but world class, and a phenomenal business.

Excellence in Emerging New Business

Berry Beauty
Judges said: An amazing team, led by an entrepreneur who has really understood the market and opportunity in Mid Canterbury, and who has continually reinvested capital into growing her business.

Excellence in Business Leadership

Graeme Kennedy
Judges said: Graeme has been a driving force in Ashburton businesses for decades. He has contributed both commercially and through his involvement in a variety of charities and philanthropic trusts. He is a clear Mid Canterbury leader and he has given so much to our businesses over that time.

Excellence in Emerging Business Leadership

Sam Cullimore
Sam is an up-and-coming leader and has achieved a lot in his short career. He is also a volunteer firefighter and works with charities, and continues to invest in his education and development, with a view to governance and directorship.

Excellence in Retail/Hospitality

Triangle Café
Highly commended: Stronecrubie and Cleavers Corner
Judges said: This category was massively contested and so close, with the Triangle Café having a slight edge. All three businesses are incredibly good and we struggled to separate them; they are all amazing businesses showing phenomenal customer service and we are proud to have them in Mid Canterbury.

Excellence in Technology and Innovation

Small: Cullimore Engineering
Judges said: The technology and innovation that was shown in the demonstration was mindblowing. To have a local business that can stand toe-to-toe with the best German precision and beat them in contracts was amazing to see.

Large: Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa
Judges said: This is a world class business that is using leading-edge innovation and technology to reduce its carbon footprint. The way they capture solar heat and store water is an environmental win.

Excellence in Export

Small: Quigley Feeds
Judges said: A company that has overcome some challenges and doing amazing things in Mid Canterbury.

Large: RX Plastics
Judges said: They clearly showed excellence in looking to develop markets and expand in the markets they have developed. They showed real innovation, a fresh approach and forward thinking in terms of how their products can be used in a different range of industries.

Excellence in Environmental Sustainability

Small: Jan Maree Cleaning Services
Judges said: This business operates in a sector that does not have the best environmental chops and some operators use a lot of chemicals. But she is really leading the way with the products she uses and how she operates.

Large: Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa
Judges said: Their commitment to being utterly the best extends to working in environmentally sustainable ways. They have lofty goals and they are hitting them; an exemplar for everyone in Mid Canterbury to follow.

Highly commended: Wrights Drycleaners

Judges said: An incredible business working in an industry which traditionally uses a lot of energy and chemicals. They are making strides to improve their footprint.

Supreme Award

Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa
Judges said: Just an outstanding business all round, a new business set up with very smart thinking and very clever people, and they have made some bold statements about what they are going to achieve. Their business model is firmly focused on their people and their customers, and they use technology to support this focus. Overall, inspirational.

ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2024 finalists revealed

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 22:55:31 GMT

The finalists have been shortlisted for the ANZ Business of the Year Awards and the all-important judging round will soon get under way, amid much excitement.

When entries to the event closed last month, organisers counted 122, which is a huge jump from when the Ashburton District awards were first held in 2022.

Council is partnering with Ri Ra Events to host the awards and Ri Ra marketing director Colm McGrath said the final count had exceeded both the target and expectations.

“We’re thrilled with the number and quality of entries, and they represent a great cross-section of our business community. We’ve seen a mix of established businesses, who’ve been doing well for a number of years, and some relative newcomers and start-ups, so we’re thrilled. We’ve shortlisted nearly 50 in the various categories, and some appear in more than one group because of their many talents.”

The next phase of the awards involves judges meeting with the shortlisted businesses to talk more indepth about what they do and what they have achieved. Winners will be announced at a gala evening at the Ashburton Aviation Museum superhangar on Friday 23 February - the aviation museum was a winner in the inaugural awards in 2022, taking top spot in the tourism category.

The gala evening is open to all businesses to attend. Category winners are eligible for the supreme business excellence award, which will be decided by Mayor Neil Brown.

The finalists are –

Excellence in Primary Industries: Agricultural Consulting Services (Canterbury) Ltd, Potato Seed Co-op Ltd, May Brothers Contracting Ltd, Veterinary Enterprises Group Ltd (VetEnt).

Excellence in Customer Experience: Big Al’s, The Dog House, Escape Adventures NZ, Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa, Wrights Drycleaners Ltd.

Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing: Jan Maree Cleaning Services Ltd, Juice Signs + Design, RX Plastics Ltd, Tavendale and Partners Ltd, Veterinary Enterprises Group.

Excellence in Community Impact: Kai for Kids Charitable Trust, Safer Mid Canterbury – Hakatere Haumaru, Staveley Ice & Curling Rink, Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust.

Excellence in Professional Services: Chilton + Mayne Architecture Ltd, Crispin Design, Rushton Marketing, Tavendale and Partners Ltd.

Excellence in Tourism: Escape Adventures NZ, Hemsworth Estate, Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa, Staveley Ice & Curling Rink.

Excellence in Manufacturing: RX Plastics Limited, Smith Attachments Ltd, Cullimore Engineering.

Excellence in Technology & Innovation: Agricultural Consulting Services (Canterbury) Ltd, Baskiville Ltd, Cullimore Engineering, Diesel-Tech Machinery, Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa.

Excellence in Export: Hemprino, Quigley Feeds NZ, Creepers Socks, RX Plastics.

Excellence in Environmental Sustainability: Jan Maree Cleaning Services Ltd, Hemprino, Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa, Wrights Drycleaners Apparelmaster.

Emerging New Business: Berry Beauty Co. Ltd, Fern and Feta Platters, Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa, Quigley Feeds NZ.

Emerging Business Leader: A Team Construction, Berry Beauty Co. Ltd, Cullimore Engineering Ltd, Opuke Thermal Pools & Spa.

Excellence in Retail/Hospitality: Berry Beauty Co. Ltd, Big Al’s, Cleavers Corner Gastro Pub, Stronechrubie Restaurant & Accommodation, Triangle Espresso.

Excellence in Business Leadership: To be announced at the awards evening.

Entry deadline for ANZ Business of the Year 2024 extended

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 03:25:49 GMT

Entry deadline for ANZ Business of the Year 2024 extended

A late surge in the number of businesses entering the 2024 ANZ Business of the Year Awards has led organisers to extend the deadline for entries.

Over 100 entries had been received by 31 October, a 40 per cent increase on the 2022 event, and the deadline has now been extended to 21 November.

Council is partnering with Ri Ra Events to run the biennial awards, and Ri Ra marketing director Colm McGrath said he was delighted with the level of interest in the 2024 awards.

“The objective of the awards is to celebrate business success in our region. We have to credit ANZ and our category partners for helping us to promote and scale the event. With the extension, there’s still some time to enter and we’re encouraging all business in our region to do so.”

He said businesses could enter multiple categories.

“The most popular categories so far are Excellence in Retail and Hospitality, Emerging Business and Excellence in Customer Experience.”

Other popular categories were Excellence in Community Impact and Excellence in Professional Services.

The award categories were expanded for 2024, following feedback from entrants in the inaugural awards. Some categories now break down into small or medium/large businesses.

The categories are: Primary industries, technology and innovation, environmental sustainability, export, customer experience, and workplace culture.

There are other awards for excellence in emerging new business, community impact, emerging business leader, business leadership, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, and tourism.

Mr McGrath said the business awards endeavoured to celebrate excellence and give high achieving businesses in the Ashburton District a pat on the back for their creativity and passion.

To enter, and for more information, businessoftheyear.nz

Thank you to our category and service partners for the 2024 ANZ Business of the Year Awards.

Category Partners: ANZCO Foods, Silk Estate, Ashburton Toyota, Catalyst Performance Agronomy, Ashburton Toyota, Abbotts Insurance, Croys, Trinity Employment Services, Naylor Love, Kaipak, Mt Hutt, Experience Mid Canterbury, Talley’s Group Ashburton.

Service Partners: Lushingtons Garden Centre, Electraserve Ashburton, Jones Family Farm, Sabelle Skin and Body Care, Twelfth Hour Distillery, Ashburton Toyota, DB Breweries, Silk Estate, House of Jam, Mediaworks.

Entries now open for 2024 business awards

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:54:41 GMT

A veritable who's who of local businesspeople gathered at the Ashburton Event Centre last Thursday to celebrate the launch of the 2024 ANZ Business of the Year Awards.

The awards were developed by Ashburton District Council in partnership with Ri Ra Events to celebrate the innovation and success of Mid Canterbury's businesses. Entries
are open now. The award categories have been expanded for 2024, following feedback from the 70 entrants in the inaugural awards in 2021. Some categories break down into small or medium/large businesses.

Category winners and a supreme winner will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday 23 February, at the Ashburton Aviation Museum’s huge super hangar.

The awards acknowledge diversity in business, as well as recognising new businesses and emerging business leaders of the future.

Categories:

Excellence in Primary Industries
Excellence in Export
Excellence in Technology and Innovation
Excellence in Customer Experience
Excellence in Environmental Sustainability
Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing
Emerging Business Award
Excellence in Community Impact
Emerging Business Leader Award
Excellence in Business Leadership
Excellence in Manufacturing
Excellence in Retail and Hospitality
Excellence in Tourism
Excellence in Professional Services
Supreme Business Excellence

Boarding soon: Ashburton district business awards 2024 preparing for take-off

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 15:02:07 GMT

The Ashburton District’s Business of the Year Awards 2024 is preparing for take-off.

Winners in the biennial awards will be celebrated at the Ashburton Aviation Museum in February next year, but right now organisers are busy finalising the categories ahead of the awards launch on Thursday 3 August.

The launch will be at the Ashburton Event Centre, from 6pm, and is a chance for potential entrants to hear more about what’s involved and what they will gain from taking part. Everyone is welcome.

ANZ is back as the main sponsor and the bank’s senior manager for Mid Canterbury Michael Royston said the organisation was looking forward to once again celebrating excellence in the district’s business community.

“We have a very diverse business community here, from agribusiness to engineering, manufacturing and technology, tourism and hospitality. We support a lot of those businesses and this is a prime opportunity to recognise and celebrate all those doing well in the business sector.

“It’s also great to recognise the young people coming through who will be leading our businesses of the future.”

The Ashburton District Council is teaming up again with Ri Ra Events to run the awards. Entries will open mid-August with finalists announced in December.

Category winners and a supreme winner will be announced at the gala dinner on Friday 23 February, at the aviation museum’s huge superhangar. The aviation museum was a winner in the 2022 awards, taking top spot in the tourism category.

Treasurer Owen Moore said it was a privilege for the not-for-profit group to host the big gala dinner.

“Publicity from the 2022 awards resulted in a lot more visitors at our aviation museum. We have some really unique and interesting airplanes and aviation history in our hangars, and it’s great our volunteers can share these flying stories with a wider audience.”

The museum is planning to build another big $2.8 million hangar to expand and better display its aviation collection.

The 2022 supreme winner was NZ Sock Co, an Ashburton company that has turned sock-making into a science. It manufactures socks for sport, endurance, extreme and everyday use. During covid, the company also made reusable masks.

Managing director Euan Sparrow said the awards were a chance to reflect on the company in a holistic sense, and recognise that it had achieved a lot, while dealing with challenges big and small along the way.

“We have so many fans of our socks and it’s a team effort to produce them. It was great to see all layers of our company, from management to the technicians operating the hosiery machines and packaging the socks, being recognised for their good work.

“As a district, we need to be proud of all our local businesses.”

The award categories have been expanded for 2024, following feedback from the 70 entrants in the inaugural awards. Some categories break down into small or medium/large businesses.

The categories are: Primary industries, technology and innovation, environmental sustainability, export, customer experience, and workplace culture.

There are other awards for excellence in emerging new business, community impact, emerging business leader, business leadership, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, and tourism.

Mayor Neil Brown said the awards were a great opportunity for Council to recognise and offer encouragement to the district’s businesses.

“We have some terrific performers right here and many are people quietly getting on with running a successful operation. I know we’re a modest crew in Mid Canterbury, so these awards are a perfect way to collectively celebrate the people who add to our economic success.”

Thank you to our category and service partners who have come on board so far. A full list of our event partners will be announced at the event launch in August.

Category Partners: Catalyst Performance Agronomy, Ashburton Toyota, Croys, Naylor Love, Kaipak, Mt Hutt, Experience Mid Canterbury, Talley’s Group Ashburton.

Service Partners: TranzAlpine Honey New Zealand, Lushingtons Garden Centre, Electraserve Ashburton, Jones Family Farm, Sabelle Skin and Body Care, Twelfth Hour Distillery, Ashburton Toyota, DB Breweries.

2022 Business of the Year Awards: Sock-maker wins supreme award

Sun, 29 May 2022 14:56:57 GMT

An Ashburton business that has turned sock-making into a science was crowned supreme winner at the Ashburton District ANZ Business of the Year Awards on Friday night.

NZ Sock Co, established by the Sparrow family in 1980 after they took over a local hosiery, also won the Technology and Innovation Award. Their history of making socks spans across three generations.

Eight category winners were also announced at the awards’ formal gala dinner, held in the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall. The awards were sponsored by ANZ and hosted by the Ashburton District Council and Ri Ra Events.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown chose the supreme winner and said most people in the district likely had a pair of NZ Sock socks.

“It’s a privilege to give this award to such an outstanding and locally-grown family business. Your socks have been worn by winners on the sports field, in the boardroom and by armies on the march. You have shown that sock-making is a real science and one that can happen in our own town.”

The inaugural awards attracted 70 entries, which went before a judging panel last year.

Council Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish it was plain to see that many businesses had taken a step forward, in spite of some challenging times in the past two years.

“The awards have shown just how innovative and world-leading some of the businesses in this district are. It was our first time running the awards and we’ll consider all the feedback we have gathered along the way and look at how we might improve them for when we next run this event.

“There will be regular updates on our website and lots of information to share ahead of the next awards.”

2022 ANZ Business of the Year finalists announced

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 19:12:06 GMT

Thirty-one finalists in seven categories have just been announced in the Ashburton District’s ANZ Business of the Year Awards. There were a total of 70 entrants across categories.

The finalists cover a wide range of businesses, from those providing hot air balloon rides to those exporting honey and special socks. The finalists for the People’s Choice Award for Retail were announced earlier this month.

Ashburton District Council is partnering with ANZ and Ri Ra Events to run the awards, which will culminate in a special gala evening at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall on 18 February 2022. In keeping with the district's Shop Smart, Shop Local campaign, where possible all suppliers used to produce this event have been sourced locally.

Council Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said the finalists were selected by a panel of judges this week and all had impressive achievements.

“The next part of the journey involves face-to-face interviews with the judging panel in January and then the judges will determine a winner and runner-up in each category.

“It’s been really exciting to get to this stage of the awards, which are being held for the first time.”

The gala evening in February is a black tie event, including a red carpet entrance. Tickets are already on sale – there are two options, including a sit down dinner or nibbles in the mezzanine floor of the memorial hall. Details are on the Business of the Year website, businessoftheyear.nz .

“There will be a full review after the awards are over, with a view to making them a regular event, maybe every two years.”

The category finalists are –

Excellence in Primary Industries (sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy):

Agricultural Consulting Services

Align Farms

Bio Oils

Carrfields

Midlands Apiaries

Excellence in Export (sponsored by Croys):

Midlands Apiaries

NZ Sock Co

Tranzalpine Honey

Excellence in Tourism (sponsored by NZ Ski):

Adventure Balloons NZ

Ashburton Aviation Museum

Bella Vista Motel

Brinkley Resort

Southern Cross Lodge

Excellence in Manufacturing (sponsored by HEB Construction):

Kaipak

Mount Hutt Pods

NZ Sock Co

Transalpine Honey

Excellence in Not-For-Profit (sponsored by Naylor Love):

Ashburton Aviation Museum

Ashburton Trust Event Centre

Bike Methven

Methven Lions Club

Excellence in Technology and Innovation (sponsored by Lynda Stevenson Chartered Accountants Ltd):

Agricultural Consulting Services

Carrfields Irrigation

Kaipak

Mt Hutt Aviation

NZ Sock Co

Bevan Rickerby Future Business Leader Award (sponsored by Sheep Milk New Zealand):

Anna Johnson

George Wilson

James Hannon

Justin Skilling

Kirsty Naish

Previously announced finalists in the People's Choice for Retail Award (sponsored by MediaWorks):

Big Al's

The Stork Network

Stoked Cycles

Hyundai Mid Canterbury

Garage Gym

2022 Ashburton District business awards deadline approaching

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:55:08 GMT

Mid Canterbury retailers and business people wanting to be part of the Ashburton District’s ANZ Business of the Year Awards are being reminded that entries close next week, on Tuesday 30 November.

The awards have six categories, plus an overall supreme winner, as well as awards for a future business leader and the people’s choice for retail.

Ashburton District Council is partnering with ANZ and Ri Ra Events to present the awards and the winners will be announced in February 2022.

Council Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said businesses thinking about entering still had time to do so.

“There are some supporting documents that also need to accompany entries, but they are not onerous and are indeed a good chance to reflect on what has been achieved, despite the obvious challenges that covid presented.

“These awards are really a way to celebrate everything that is great about our district and the smart businesses that we have operating here.”

Award categories are primary industries, export, tourism, manufacturing, not-for-profit and technology and innovation. There will also be a supreme winner.

Category finalists will be announced in December and the winners revealed at a gala event on February 18, covid permitting.

Eleven businesses are currently doing battle for the People’s Choice Award for retail, details of the businesses and their voting codes can be found on the website businessoftheyear.nz. Voting for the People’s Choice Award also ends on 30 November.

ANZ Business of the Year Awards Categories:

Excellence in Tourism Award – sponsored by NZ Ski

Excellence in Technology & Innovation – sponsored by Lynda Stephenson Accountants

Excellence in Not For Profit - sponsored by Naylor Love

Excellence in Primary Industries – sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy

Excellence in Export Award – sponsored by Croys

Excellence in Manufacturing Award – sponsored by HEB

People’s Choice Award for Retail – sponsored by Media Works

Future Business Leader Award - sponsored by Sheep Milk New Zealand

Spreading the word about our 2022 business awards

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 20:05:25 GMT

The Ashburton District Council is hosting a business networking event at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre on Friday, August 6, from 4 pm to 6 pm, to spread the word about the ANZ Business of the Year Awards.

The inaugural business awards have just been launched and entries are now being encouraged. The networking event will be a chance to tell people more about the different award categories and what is involved.

Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said businesses will be able to ask questions, talk to those involved and register for the awards, making the whole process easier.

“This is the first time these events have been held and it’s a great opportunity to showcase you and your business within the region.

“We know things have been tough and we want to spread the successes, wins, and good news stories of the district.”

ANZ has just been announced as the platinum sponsor for the awards, which include a People’s Choice award for retail that is decided by public text vote. Retailers entering that category at the networking event will receive a poster with their unique voting code that they can share with customers and encourage them to vote – the voting period is from 1 August to November 30.

All votes are by free text to 4196. All entries to the awards will receive an official entrant certificate and window sticker.

There is also a Future Business Leader Award and a Supreme Winner, chosen from the winners of categories for primary industries, export, tourism, manufacturing, not-for-profit, and technology and innovation.

Entries must be received by 5 pm on November 30 and winners will be revealed at a gala evening on February 18 next year.

Mr Fabish said the networking event was an informal way to get the ball rolling and he hoped to see a good representation from the business community.

Light refreshments will be provided and people wanting to come should RSVP by Wednesday 4 August, along with any dietary requirements.

MAYOR: New business awards to recognise excellence

Wed, 19 May 2021 20:18:53 GMT

Our local business community is a switched on, innovative group who work hard to support our people and economy, but their efforts aren’t always given the recognition they deserve. Soon, all that will change thanks to the development of a brand new awards night.

The Ashburton District Business of the Year Awards 2022 are a new endeavour from the Council designed to celebrate excellence and give our high achieving businesses a pat on the back for their creativity and passion.

Entries will open on 1 August 2021 and businesses will have until 30 November to put themselves forward.

Running a successful business isn’t always easy, in fact it’s often a very testing environment. Consumer habits evolve, legislative requirements change, competitors joust for market share, and all of that is before we even consider the monumental challenges of covid-19.

It’s a tough landscape at times and you need your finger on the pulse to stay in the game, but when hard work and innovation shine through, the benefits businesses have for our economy are incredible.

They provide jobs, training, expertise and services, and they make living and working in our district even more attractive.

That’s why we think it’s time for our standout businesses who are excelling in their field to be acknowledged.

We already know that there are some outstanding operations and businesspeople in our community. Our district is the backbone of farming, home to mass irrigation, and is continuing to grow our manufacturing and tourism sectors.

The awards will acknowledge this sector diversity, with several categories on offer including Supreme Business Excellence and Future Business Leader, and nominations will be open to all businesses of any size within the Ashburton District.

There will be no cost to enter, and those who put their name forward for consideration will enjoy an awards gala dinner early next year where the winners will be announced.

Business awards allow companies to energise and motivate their teams, benchmark against their competitors and gain an outside perspective on their strengths and opportunities for improvements.

I hope our fantastic local businesses will be throwing their hat in the ring to showcase their achievements when the awards officially open on 1 August 2021.