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.

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.

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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 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.

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.