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2022 Ashburton District business awards deadline approaching

November 25, 2021

Mid Canterbury retailers and business people wanting to be part of the Ashburton District’s ANZ Business of the Year Awards are being reminded that entries close next week, on Tuesday 30 November.

The awards have six categories, plus an overall supreme winner, as well as awards for a future business leader and the people’s choice for retail.


Ashburton District Council is partnering with ANZ and Ri Ra Events to present the awards and the winners will be announced in February 2022.


Council Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said businesses thinking about entering still had time to do so.


“There are some supporting documents that also need to accompany entries, but they are not onerous and are indeed a good chance to reflect on what has been achieved, despite the obvious challenges that covid presented.


“These awards are really a way to celebrate everything that is great about our district and the smart businesses that we have operating here.”


Award categories are primary industries, export, tourism, manufacturing, not-for-profit and technology and innovation. There will also be a supreme winner.


Category finalists will be announced in December and the winners revealed at a gala event on February 18, covid permitting.


Eleven businesses are currently doing battle for the People’s Choice Award for retail, details of the businesses and their voting codes can be found on the website businessoftheyear.nz. Voting for the People’s Choice Award also ends on 30 November.


ANZ Business of the Year Awards Categories:

Excellence in Tourism Award – sponsored by NZ Ski

Excellence in Technology & Innovation – sponsored by Lynda Stephenson Accountants

Excellence in Not For Profit - sponsored by Naylor Love

Excellence in Primary Industries – sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy

Excellence in Export Award – sponsored by Croys

Excellence in Manufacturing Award – sponsored by HEB

People’s Choice Award for Retail – sponsored by Media Works

Future Business Leader Award - sponsored by Sheep Milk New Zealand

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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