Hi-Tech Awards finalists show Wellington is the tech capital

27 March 2014

Hi-Tech Awards finalists show Wellington is the high tech capital

Wellington has the highest number of companies per capita in this year’s Hi-Tech Awards, again confirming that Wellington is the high tech capital of New Zealand.

Eight Wellington technology businesses are finalists in the 2014 NZ Hi-Tech Awards. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday 16 May.

“It’s phenomenal how the Wellington high tech sector has grown in the past few years,” says Gerard Quinn, CEO of Grow Wellington, the region’s economic development agency.

“It still probably comes as a surprise to some that more people in the Wellington region work in technology-related sectors than in the public sector.”

Wellington-based company Xero took out the top award last year and three other Wellington businesses won various award categories. This year Xero is again a finalist for the Hi-Tech Company of the Year.

“All these rapidly-growing companies mean there are more and more opportunities for talented people here,” says Mr Quinn.

“As well as these local success stories, our reputation as an innovative, well-connected region with a great culture and lifestyle is helping to attract international tech talent and investors.”

Wellington has the highest number of New Zealand companies (16 out of 40) in the 2013 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific index, a ranking of the top 500 technology businesses based on revenue growth.

Last year over half the revenue growth of the TIN 100 – the report that measures the performance of New Zealand's largest export-focused technology companies – came from the Wellington region. Wellington TIN 100 companies also grew close to three times faster than any other region.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Wellington businesses succeed at this year’s awards and beyond that to the 2015 event which will be hosted in Wellington, the high tech capital,” says Mr Quinn.

Grow Wellington is one of the awards supporters and is sponsoring the Innovative Hi-Tech Service Product category.

ENDS

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