The ANZ Business of the Year Awards and gala dinner have been rescheduled to Friday 27 May and a sparkling night to celebrate the best businesses in the district is planned.

Ashburton District Council has partnered with ANZ Bank and Ri Ra Events to run the inaugural awards, and the gala dinner will reveal winners of eight categories and an overall supreme winner chosen by Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown.

The awards attracted around 70 entrants and the judging panel has been hard pressed to pick winners.
Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said the gala dinner on 27 May was a black tie affair to be held at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall in Methven and it was a fitting finale to the awards.

“We have seen some amazing businesses talk about their journey and we have been impressed by the quality of what they do and how they do it.

“Many also talked about how they look after their people and that was prominent across all the different categories. What really stood out was how world-class some of our businesses are and this is something we should all be proud of.”

About 250 tickets at seated tables have been sold so far; gallery tickets are also available.

The gala dinner begins at 6pm and after an entrée, the winners of the primary industry, export, tourism and manufacturing categories will be announced.

Following an an interval and break for the main course, winners will be announced in the not-for-profit and technology and innovation categories.

Food on the night will be supplied by Fern and Feta Platters, and Foothills Catering.

The winners of the Bevan Rickerby Future Business Leader award and the People’s Choice for Retail will then be revealed, followed by the announcement of the supreme winner.

Mr Fabish thanked the awards’ sponsors, including primary sponsor ANZ Bank, for their continued support and said the longterm goal was to run the awards every two years.

“While our district and the whole of the country has been through some tough and fairly unusual times because of Covid-19, we need to support and celebrate our businesses, and acknowledge the economic good they bring to our communities.”

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Excellence in Tourism Award – sponsored by NZ Ski

Excellence in Technology & Innovation – sponsored by Lynda Stevenson Chartered Accountants Ltd

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 MediaWorks

Future Business Leader Award - sponsored by Sheep Milk New Zealand

To see the full list of finalists in the eight categories, go to businessoftheyear.nz.