WhereScape Finalists in NZIBA Awards

What do you get when you combine international volunteering, experiential tourism photography and pilot training with a values-driven Maori food & beverage company, a digital tool for movie marketers, and a company “hell-bent” on shrinking power bills? A taste of just some of the 25 finalists in the 2015 New Zealand International Business Awards.

Celebrating the passion, vision and new approaches that New Zealand businesses are taking to achieve international success, the Awards are run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Strategic Partner ANZ.

Other finalists include an international multidisciplinary engineering and project management consultancy, a manuka honey company whose products have multiple uses including gourmet cooking and wound care, and a supplier of critical threat assessment and advanced crime analytics software for government, financial services and critical national infrastructure providers.

Proving just how valuable the Awards process is, today’s announcement also sees the return of previous finalists Serato, Zeacom, WhereScape, Canterbury Scientific, Yealands Wine Group, SnapComms, Milmeq and Synlait Milk.

The 2015 contenders represent one of the most diverse lists of finalists in the Awards history, cutting across multiple sectors and services.

Peter Chrisp, Chief Executive of NZTE, said the diversity exemplifies an increased appetite from businesses to push frontiers and embrace innovation.

“In this year’s finalists we can see companies who are going premium with new business models and who are leveraging the New Zealand brand. They’re building businesses that are offering more tailored and bespoke products and services and the results are evident in their success.”

David Green, Managing Director Institutional at ANZ New Zealand, said: “The great diversity of this year’s finalists reflects the significant potential for New Zealand businesses when they take the time to understand offshore markets, pursue new growth opportunities and innovate to develop products that meet the needs of end-consumers. Their success is contributing to New Zealand’s growing achievements in doing business globally, which is supporting job creation, economic growth and a stronger future.”

Later this month, each finalist will have the opportunity to make a winning impression when they participate in a 30 minute pitching and Q&A session with a judging panel that features some of New Zealand’s top business minds.

Winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on March 25 at Sky City in Auckland.

Read Full Media Release here

Originally posted by NZTE, January 20, 2015