Finalists Announced For 2022 ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards

The finalists for the seventh ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards have been announced and they include some of the province’s top companies.

The finalists are:

- ContainerCo Best Emerging Business: 3sixty2 (Havelock North), Rare New Zealand (Hastings), PSI Brand (Napier) and Starboard Bio (Hastings).

- SEACAPE Excellence in Innovation: Rockit Global (Hastings), Pultron Composites (Gisborne), The New Zealand Casings Co (Hastings) and Scottsdale Construction Systems (Napier).

- T&G Global Best Established Business: Freshmax (Hastings), Rockit Global (Hastings) and The New Zealand Casings Co (Hastings).

The winners of each category will contest the supreme award of ASB Hawke’s Bay Exporter of the Year and will automatically enter the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) International Business Awards in Auckland in November.

Napier Port is sponsoring the Unsung Heroes Award, which reflects the hard work done by individuals within their business. This Award is based on nominations from businesses and will be presented on the night.

Entries were open to exporters from Gisborne to Pahiatua.

The Awards Gala Dinner will be on 25th August at Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre.The judges are ASB Head of International Trade, Fergus Lee; NZTE Director, Wayne Norrie; Callaghan Innovation Specialist, Jenny Brown; Napier Port Chairman, Alasdair Macleod; and NZTE Regional Manager, James Medina.

ASB’s Fergus Lee said the quality of the entries was very high, which meant the judges had a real challenge on their hands. "It was pleasing to see that, even with the challenges and impacts of Covid-19, the calibre of the submissions is consistently high, and the quality of businesses put forward represents the top talent from the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions."

ExportNZ Hawke’s Bay Executive Officer, Amanda Liddle, said there was once again a high standard of entries. "To have survived the past two years shows the resilience of our exporters. They are not just surviving but thriving in the current conditions, although that’s not without its fair share of long days and sleepless nights. Our exporters continue to stamp their mark on the world and the Awards are about celebrating their success."

Hawke’s Bay Airport is sponsoring the gala dinner.

Other sponsors are New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Grundy Productions, The Jingle King and Te Mata Estate.

Last year’s ASB Hawke’s Bay Exporter of the Year was New Zealand Frost Fans from Hastings.

ExportNZ Hawke’s Bay is overseen by Business Central, which represents 3,500 employers across the lower North Island. It provides employer, health and safety, and human resources advice, and advocates policies that reflect the interest of the business community.

Tickets to the event go on sale today on the ExportNZ website: exportnz.org.nz.

© Scoop Media