The Westpac Tauranga Business Awards

The awards are an opportunity to energise your business and benchmark yourself against competitors. They are also a way to celebrate your success and gain media exposure.

Kids Ride Shotgun wowed the judges with their purpose led approach, and clever international marketing strategy. The judges credited LawVu with huge potential for further growth and credited them for choosing to base their global operations out of Tauranga.

Business of the Year

The Business of the Year Award is one of the highest honours at the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards. It recognises businesses that excel in their industry and function creatively. They are highly sustainable, and have a positive impact on their local community.

This year's winner, Dawn Aerospace, is a high-tech start-up that provides green-propellant satellite propulsion and is developing a same day reusable spaceplane. Judges praised the audacious vision of this innovative company, backed by strong commercial acumen.

Earlier this evening Chamberlain Carpentry & Joinery won the Strettons Excellence in Business - Small to Medium Business award and were Highly Commended in the Enterprise Great Lake Taupo Excellence in Innovation award. They were also awarded the Supreme Award in recognition of their overall business excellence. Judges were impressed by their ability to refocus during the pandemic and drive growth. They have a strong culture that has been embraced by their team and customers. Their focus on people is paying off, as they continue to expand in New Zealand and abroad.

Excellence in International Trade

In a world of increasing complexity and global supply chains, successful companies are increasingly required to think outside the box about how they are going to access markets and create value. This award recognizes a business that has identified an international opportunity and successfully exploited it, with a clear impact on their bottom line.

The award was presented by ITC executive director Patricia Francis. She commended the winners, noting that 'today success in export markets depends on being part of a larger value chain and understanding how you fit into a global network. These awards recognise a TPO (trade promotion organisation) that has taken a forward-thinking approach to empowering their companies to do just that'.

The awards night at Trustpower Arena was a fun-filled evening, with a full house and a wide range of businesses vying for their category winners. Chamberlain Carpentry & Joinery won the Overall Supreme Business of the Year Award as well as picking up wins in the Zest Brokers Excellence in Business - Medium Business Award and the Legend Excellence in Innovation – Small Business Award.

Maori Excellence in Export

The Tauranga Business Awards shine a light on every corner of our regional business community. They are about celebrating thriving, innovative and successful local businesses. They also highlight businesses who came out of the pandemic stronger, demonstrating flexibility and resilience. And they’re about identifying those who have a clear purpose.

The inaugural Maori Excellence in Export Award is an opportunity to celebrate the great work that is being done by our local Maori businesses. It recognises those companies who are making a contribution to the New Zealand export economy, and demonstrate the approach, values and tikanga that underpin and define Maori businesses.

The winners of the Maori Excellence in Export Award will be automatically shortlisted for the ASB New Zealand Exporter of the Year award. This year’s judges include a number of senior business figures from across the country.

Sustainable Business Award

The Sustainable Business Award celebrates businesses who are making a positive impact to the environment. This can be in their operations, or through other initiatives such as waste management, responsible supply chains and/or community engagement.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s James Paterson was part of the judging panel for this category and said he visited “phenomenal” businesses. He added that the judges were impressed to see entrants create extra value for customers and staff through their sustainability endeavours.

This year’s top honour went to Kids Ride Shotgun, which was founded in 2017 with the goal of getting kids off screens and onto mountain bikes. Their unique approach has led to a growing business with 95 per cent of its sales coming from international markets. They also won the Digital Innovation, Marketing and Communications and Excellence in International Trade awards. The judges noted the company has huge potential for further growth. They credited the team with “a real passion and commitment for what they do”.

Find out more here.