Winners named in 2016 NZ International Business Awards

Media release

Embargoed 11pm 24 November 2016

Winners named in 2016 New Zealand International Business Awards

A new crop of outstanding winners has tonight been announced in the New Zealand International Business Awards, with data warehouse automation software provider WhereScape winning the coveted Judge’s Supreme Award for International Business.

Nine companies scooped up accolades in this year’s awards, which celebrate the success of New Zealand businesses on the world stage.

Run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise with strategic partner ANZ, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the prestigious awards.

The judges were impressed by WhereScape’s ability to turn big data into big business. The company, which also won the Best Medium Business award, develops the software for organisations to manage and analyse their crown jewels - big sets of data.

Based in Auckland and Portland, Oregon, WhereScape has customers in 26 countries and recently expanded into Asia where it has attracted some high profile brands including Chanel. The United States is the company’s largest and fastest growing market, where its clients include GE, Nike, and the Dallas Cowboys.

WhereScape is no stranger to the New Zealand International Business Awards, having been named a finalist in the 2015 awards.

The awards Supreme Judge, David Downs, says WhereScape has made outstanding progress in the past year.

“Their clever transition from a product company to a global sales organisation has allowed them to exploit the global opportunity for data analytics, right at the time when expertise in big data is most sought after,” says Mr Downs.

Other recipients of awards this year include Haka Tours and Timely, who shared the award for Best Emerging Business and Gallagher, named Best Large Business. Straker Translations, New Zealand Mint and Gallagher respectively took home awards for Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Marketing and Excellence in Design, while Ngāi Tahu Tourism won the He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export award, and Xero the Excellence in Leadership award.

NZTE Chief Executive Peter Chrisp says this year’s winners are using their Kiwi ingenuity and tenacity to build global businesses from New Zealand, demonstrating their resilience and innovation.

“We’re seeing an exciting shift in the mind set of digital businesses, as they go-global from day one. These companies have started out with an ambition to build a global business from New Zealand, rather than building in New Zealand first then evolving,” says Mr Chrisp.

“It can be a winning strategy, as these companies chase rapid customer growth in niche high value markets.

“The supreme winner WhereScape exemplifies all of the attributes it takes for a Kiwi business to succeed internationally, and is agile and quick to evolve and meet its customers’ needs in the global data automation software market,” Mr Chrisp says.

ANZ’s Managing Director of Commercial and Agri, Mark Hiddleston, said the impressive range of businesses represented in the finalists and the winners was a reflection of the focus, innovation and determination shown by Kiwi businesses as they go head to head with the world’s best.

“When ANZ’s strategic partnership of the awards started in 2009, it was in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. The business environment was volatile and uncertain, but for those who were ready to embrace the new reality, there was enormous opportunity,” Hiddleston said. “It was a test in businesses’ ability to adapt and react and New Zealand businesses today are sharper, smarter and well equipped for a strong future.”

“We congratulate all those businesses who have been recognised and are incredibly proud to see some of those are customers with ANZ.”

Winners of the New Zealand International Business Awards were announced at a black tie ceremony at Auckland’s SKYCITY Convention Centre on November 24.

Next year, a new award that recognises and celebrates women in business will be introduced to the prestigious New Zealand International Business Awards.

The awards other sponsors are KPMG, MFAT, Callaghan Innovation, Kotahi, Special Group, MBIE, Te Puni Kōkiri and Treasury. NZME is the awards’ official media partner.

For more information about the winners and the awards please visit www.nziba.co.nz

WINNERS in the 2016 New Zealand International Business Awards

SUPREME AWARD WINNER

• WhereScape Software (Auckland)

GENERAL CATEGORY FINALISTS

Best Emerging Business

• Haka Tourism Group (Auckland)

• Timely (Dunedin)

Best Medium Business

• WhereScape Software (Auckland)

Best Large Business

• Gallagher (Waikato)

SPECIAL CATEGORY FINALISTS

Excellence in Innovation, supported by Callahan Innovation

• Straker Translations (Auckland)

Excellence in Marketing, supported by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT)

• New Zealand Mint (Auckland)

Excellence in Operations and Supply Chain, supported by Kotahi

• GMP Pharmaceuticals Group (Auckland)

Excellence in Design, supported by Special Group

• Gallagher (Waikato)

He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export, supported by The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Te Puni Kōkiri, The Treasury

• Ngai Tāhu Tourism (Christchurch)

Excellence in Leadership, supported by KPMG

• Xero

About the New Zealand International Business Awards

The New Zealand International Business Awards are run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and celebrate the success of New Zealand businesses on the world stage.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the awards and in that time many of New Zealand’s most iconic companies have been celebrated, including Tonka, Tip Top and the Apple and Pear Marketing Board (ENZA).

ANZ has been the awards’ strategic partner since 2009. The awards other sponsors are KPMG, MFAT, Callaghan Innovation, Special Group, Kotahi, MBIE, Te Puni Kōkiri and Treasury.

The awards winners were announced at a black tie ceremony in Auckland on November 24. To find out more about the awards visitwww.nziba.co.nz

Follow updates: Twitter: @NZTEnews, #NZIBA; Facebook: facebook.com/NZtradeandenterprise; Google+: plus.google.com/+nzte; Online: www.nziba.co.nz

About New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)

NZTE is the Government’s international business development agency, helping to boost global reach and build capability so our companies can grow bigger, better, faster. We leverage our connections and government influence on behalf of businesses, and apply local knowledge – from the NZTE team and a network of private sector experts – to help them enter and grow in international markets. www.nzte.govt.nz

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