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

July 8, 2024

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.

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’.

ANZ Business of the Year Award winners fly high

February 24, 2024
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.

ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2024 finalists revealed

December 6, 2023
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.