For immediate release

Christchurch Finalists Highlight for 2011 NZ Hi-Tech Awards

Auckland, March 24, 2011.

Three Christchurch companies beat the odds and an earthquake to make this year's finals of the NZ Hi-Tech Awards. "We were amazed to have received any entries from Christchurch as the competition closed just days after the earthquake struck," says NZ Hi-Tech Trust Chair, Wayne Norrie. "To be able to announce three Christchurch companies as finalists is testimony to the hi-tech sector continuing to be a dominant force for Canterbury in the future."

Electronic fold-up bike manufacturer YikeBike is a finalist in the Dell Innovative Hardware Product category while NZ Tax Refunds and Sense Medical are finalists in the NZX Hi-Tech Emerging Company and the new Vodafone Most Innovative Product from an Emerging Market category, respectively.

The Christchurch companies join 30 others from across the country, including Pingar from Tauranga and Lifetime Health Diary from Dunedin, who were announced as finalists at simultaneous functions held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today. Orion Health was the stand out entrant, featuring as a finalist in six categories, with newcomers Mi5 Security and VoucherMob amongst those who are finalists in two or more categories.

Entries for 2011 hit record numbers and the NZ Hi-Tech Trust chair attributes at least some of the increase to the judging panel that has been assembled for the Awards. "We have over 40 local judges and a dozen international judges including Wall Street Journal's Global Business Advisor of the Year, Gary Hamel, and Dell founder, Michael Dell," says Wayne Norrie. "Who wouldn't want to get their business in front of those guys?"

Winners of the awards in each category will be announced at a black-tie, gala dinner to be held at the TSB Arena in Wellington on Friday 6th May 2011.

The finalists for each category are as follows:

PricewaterhouseCoopers Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2011

M-Com

Orion Health

Rakon

NZTE Hi-Tech Company of the Decade

Datacom

Endace

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Orion Health

Rakon

NZX Hi-Tech Emerging Company 2011

Aptimize

Biomatters

Foster Moore

NZ Tax Refunds

Ministry of Science and Innovation Best Hi-Tech Start-up 2011

Lifetime Health Diary

Pingar

VoucherMob

Yonix

Duncan Cotterill Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award 2011

Aptimize

Bis2

Compac Sorting Equipment

Orion Health

SERKO

Terralink International

Dell Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award 2011

Electronic Navigation Ltd (ENL)

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Theatrelight New Zealand

YikeBike

HiFX Innovative Hi-Tech Services Product Award 2011

Konnect

Mi5 Security

Secured Signing

SERKO

Vodafone Most Innovative Product from an Emerging Market 2011 - Mobile Technologies

Mi5 Security

Outpost Central

Sense Medical

VoucherMob

Recruit IT Hi-Tech Employer of Choice Award 2011

Orion Health

Redvespa

Vodafone New Zealand

Web Drive

NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year 2011

Under $5million

Magritek

SERKO

Sonar6

Over $5million

BankLink

Orion Health

Zeacom

Maxnet Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award 2011

Genevieve Clark

Sarah Perkin

John-Daniel Trask

Swaytech Hi-Tech Journalist Award 2011

Stephen Bell

Anthony Doesburg

Divina Paredes

The NZ Hi-Tech Awards

In its 17th year, the New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards celebrates the success of our producers of goods and services from the software, electronics, telecommunications, creative and other hi- tech industries. Contributing an estimated NZ$2 billion in exports and employing some 40,000 staff, the hi-tech sector represents some of New Zealand's most innovative and successful business stories. The NZ Hi-Tech Awards are run by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at promoting and supporting the wider industry. The Board is formed by seven trustees: Ross Peat, Brett O'Riley and Wayne Hudson in Auckland, Chair Wayne Norrie and John Fokerd in Wellington and Christchurch-based trustees Owen Scott and Andrew Plimmer. www.hitech.orgnz

ends

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