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2022 ANZ Business of the Year finalists announced

December 16, 2021

Thirty-one finalists in seven categories have just been announced in the Ashburton District’s ANZ Business of the Year Awards. There were a total of 70 entrants across categories.

The finalists cover a wide range of businesses, from those providing hot air balloon rides to those exporting honey and special socks. The finalists for the People’s Choice Award for Retail were announced earlier this month.


Ashburton District Council is partnering with ANZ and Ri Ra Events to run the awards, which will culminate in a special gala evening at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall on 18 February 2022. In keeping with the district's Shop Smart, Shop Local campaign, where possible all suppliers used to produce this event have been sourced locally.


Council Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said the finalists were selected by a panel of judges this week and all had impressive achievements.


“The next part of the journey involves face-to-face interviews with the judging panel in January and then the judges will determine a winner and runner-up in each category.


“It’s been really exciting to get to this stage of the awards, which are being held for the first time.”


The gala evening in February is a black tie event, including a red carpet entrance. Tickets are already on sale – there are two options, including a sit down dinner or nibbles in the mezzanine floor of the memorial hall. Details are on the Business of the Year website, businessoftheyear.nz.


“There will be a full review after the awards are over, with a view to making them a regular event, maybe every two years.”


The category finalists are –


Excellence in Primary Industries (sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy):

Agricultural Consulting Services

Align Farms

Bio Oils

Carrfields

Midlands Apiaries


Excellence in Export (sponsored by Croys):

Midlands Apiaries

NZ Sock Co

Tranzalpine Honey


Excellence in Tourism (sponsored by NZ Ski):

Adventure Balloons NZ

Ashburton Aviation Museum

Bella Vista Motel

Brinkley Resort

Southern Cross Lodge


Excellence in Manufacturing (sponsored by HEB Construction):

Kaipak

Mount Hutt Pods

NZ Sock Co

Transalpine Honey


Excellence in Not-For-Profit (sponsored by Naylor Love):

Ashburton Aviation Museum

Ashburton Trust Event Centre

Bike Methven

Methven Lions Club


Excellence in Technology and Innovation (sponsored by Lynda Stevenson Chartered Accountants Ltd):

Agricultural Consulting Services

Carrfields Irrigation

Kaipak

Mt Hutt Aviation

NZ Sock Co


Bevan Rickerby Future Business Leader Award (sponsored by Sheep Milk New Zealand):

Anna Johnson

George Wilson

James Hannon

Justin Skilling

Kirsty Naish



Previously announced finalists in the People's Choice for Retail Award (sponsored by MediaWorks):

Big Al's

The Stork Network

Stoked Cycles

Hyundai Mid Canterbury

Garage Gym

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.
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