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MAYOR: New business awards to recognise excellence

May 19, 2021

Our local business community is a switched on, innovative group who work hard to support our people and economy, but their efforts aren’t always given the recognition they deserve. Soon, all that will change thanks to the development of a brand new awards night.

The Ashburton District Business of the Year Awards 2022 are a new endeavour from the Council designed to celebrate excellence and give our high achieving businesses a pat on the back for their creativity and passion.


Entries will open on 1 August 2021 and businesses will have until 30 November to put themselves forward.


Running a successful business isn’t always easy, in fact it’s often a very testing environment. Consumer habits evolve, legislative requirements change, competitors joust for market share, and all of that is before we even consider the monumental challenges of covid-19.


It’s a tough landscape at times and you need your finger on the pulse to stay in the game, but when hard work and innovation shine through, the benefits businesses have for our economy are incredible.


They provide jobs, training, expertise and services, and they make living and working in our district even more attractive.


That’s why we think it’s time for our standout businesses who are excelling in their field to be acknowledged.


We already know that there are some outstanding operations and businesspeople in our community. Our district is the backbone of farming, home to mass irrigation, and is continuing to grow our manufacturing and tourism sectors.


The awards will acknowledge this sector diversity, with several categories on offer including Supreme Business Excellence and Future Business Leader, and nominations will be open to all businesses of any size within the Ashburton District.


There will be no cost to enter, and those who put their name forward for consideration will enjoy an awards gala dinner early next year where the winners will be announced.

Business awards allow companies to energise and motivate their teams, benchmark against their competitors and gain an outside perspective on their strengths and opportunities for improvements.


I hope our fantastic local businesses will be throwing their hat in the ring to showcase their achievements when the awards officially open on 1 August 2021.

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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