Finalists in Export Awards 2009 Announced

With preliminary judging completed finalists for the coveted BNZ Partners Bay of Plenty Export Awards 2009 have been chosen.

Export New Zealand Bay of Plenty executive officer and awards organiser Angela Wallace says she’s delighted with the finalists’ entries and the way the entire event is shaping up.

“All sponsorship opportunities have been filled, tickets are flying out the door already, and when people see the calibre of the finalists and some of the surprises in store the demand for tickets will be even greater,” she says.

The finalists in three of the five categories are:

United Travel Corporate Emerging Exporter of the Year - Nature Shop, Hotmilk and Eclipse Valves.

Page Macrae Innovation in Export Award - Heilala Vanilla, Hotmilk and Nature Shop.

Sharp Tudhope Exporter of the Year - Stainless Downunder, Bluelab Corporation and Allied Industrial Engineering.

Finalists yet to be revealed are those for the Waiariki Institute of Technology Export Achiever of the Year which have been selected but are under embargo until the awards presentation night (June 26).

Head Judge Hugh King of King and Associates says the Export Achiever of the Year Award recognises an individual contribution which has been outstanding over time and has had a sustainable influence on the success of their business.

“People enable successful businesses,” Mr King says. “Our nominees are committed beyond the scope of a job description. They are the glue that holds export initiatives together and have the mana to influence others to achieve. These individuals are often not the tall poppies and it is time that we championed such talent.”

Angela Wallace says the very deserving recipient of the ZESPRI Service to Export Award, for someone who has given generously of their time and efforts to the Bay of Plenty export community, has also been chosen.

“Due to the breadth of their relationship with local exporters this award is going to be a moving tribute.”

The other judges are Peter Luxton of Burgeon Solutions, Kevin Trask of Productiv, Alan Bougen of Comvita, Sarah Ali of Personnel Resources, Tim Bell of BNZ Partners, Murray Hill of Sharp Tudhope, Graeme Rennie of Waiariki Institute of Technology and Ian Macrae of Page Macrae. The team of judges congratulates all the finalists.

Angela Wallace says an event of this calibre would not be possible without the generous support of not only BNZ Partners (the principal sponsor) and the award category sponsors, but also the host of event supporters: Hub Creative, Braincell, Carlin Valenti, Florentines, Kale Print, Mills Reef, Morton Estate, Taura URC, Distillerie Deinlein, Productiv and Wayne Tait Photography.

Winners will be announced and awards presented at a black tie gala dinner themed as ‘the circus’ on Friday June 26 at Bay Park Stadium in Tauranga with MC ‘Te Radar’. Tickets are available from Export New Zealand Bay of Plenty.