We’re excited to announce this year’s finalists for the Westpac Champion Business Awards. Our diverse range of finalists are a fantastic representation of the highly adaptive, responsive and innovative businesses that Waitaha Canterbury has become known for.
Click on the award category below to see who's in the running for the 2021 Westpac Champion Business Awards.
Click on the award category below to see who's in the running for the 2021 Westpac Champion Business Awards.
Champion Customer Experience - Small
Champion Producer/Manufacturer - Small
NZTE Champion Emerging Exporter
ChristchurchNZ Champion Innovation
Rata Foundation Champion Community Impact - Small
The Press Champion Community Impact - Med / Large
Christchurch City Council Business For Good
ACC Champion Workplace Injury Prevention
2degrees Champion Workplace
University of Canterbury Business School Champion Emerging Business
Champion Emerging Leader
- Akaroa Dolphins: Akaroa Dolphins is a locally owned and operated family business, which offers 2-hour harbour nature cruises.
- Riverside Market: Riverside Market is a $50 million development in the heart of the city.
- Shizoku Martial Arts: We educate, inspire and empower people to develop positive outcomes in themselves, their families and their communities through Martial Arts.
- Catalyst Performance Agronomy: CPA provides specialised agronomy services to pastoral farmers, selling seed, chemical and fertiliser products across south island.
- Hamner Springs Thermal Pools & Spas: Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa is a day spa and resort, renowned for its 22 thermal pools and slides.
- Mt Hutt Ski AreaMt Hutt: Proud winners of New Zealand's Best Ski Resort at the World Ski Awards since 2015.
Champion Producer/Manufacturer - Small
- Sabelle Skin and Body Care (Produced Sheep Milk NZ): Sabelle skin & body care was developed for sensitive skin with the unique combination of sheep milk and 16+ Manuka honey
- Totalspan North Canterbury: At Totalspan North Canterbury we specialise in high-quality customised steel framed buildings. We manage builds from concept to completion.
- Tuatara Structures: Tuatara Structures specialise in large-scale industrial, commercial and agrispace solutions, delivering robust, fit-for-purpose buildings New Zealand-wide.
- Link Engine Management: Global leaders in engine management technology, motorsport, street, boats, motorcycles, aircraft and snowmobiles.
- Tumblar Products Ltd: To lead the way using Creative Chemistry in manufacturing a diverse range of consumer goods, brands and applications
- Wyma Solutions: Wyma Solutions is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of post-harvest vegetable and fruit handling equipment.
NZTE Champion Emerging Exporter
- Banqer Ltd: Banqer's on a mission to prepare the next generation for their financial futures through engaging and relevant financial education software.
- Dawn Aerospace: Delivering hardware to space. Positioning satellites on orbit. Returning products to Earth.
- Eagle Protect: Eagle Protect™ has been a specialist glove & clothing supplier to the food, medical & industrial sectors in New Zealand since 2006.
- Natural Pet Food Group: Enabling cats & dogs to thrive through naturally better nutrition, enriching their lives and the lives of those that love them.
- Seequent: Seequent creates mission-critical software that connects the sciences to allow customers to drive better, more sustainable decisions about the Earth
- Wyma Solutions: Wyma Solutions is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of post-harvest vegetable and fruit handling equipment.
ChristchurchNZ Champion Innovation
- Dawn Aerospace: Delivering hardware to space. Positioning satellites on orbit. Returning products to Earth.
- Medsalv: Medsalv was founded to make healthcare sustainable by keeping single-use medical devices out of landfill, providing value for health system
- Natural Paint Co.: Natural Paint Co was founded to create the world’s best paint that is healthier for people and our planet.
Rata Foundation Champion Community Impact - Small
- Foodbank Canterbury: Foodbank Canterbury is the SI’s largest food-relief organisation crucial to the work of front-line charities who feed vulnerable whanau.
- The Hororata Community Trust: Over 10 years the Hororata Community Trust has provided the resources to enable and develop Hororata and its wider community.
- YWCA Christchurch: YWCA - emergency/transitional housing empowering wahine and their tamariki. Family harm steals hope - we aim to empower positive futures.
The Press Champion Community Impact - Med / Large
- Aviva Charitable Trust: Aviva is a Canterbury-based, specialist family and sexual violence agency that supports people to live free from violence.
- The Champion Centre: The Champion Centre provides high-quality whānau-based early intervention services for Canterbury wānau and their tamariki with disabilities and developmental challenges.
- He Waka Tapu: To increase wellbeing and provide positive health impacts to the whānau in our community.
Christchurch City Council Business For Good
- Foodbank Canterbury: Foodbank Canterbury is the SI’s largest food-relief organisation crucial to the work of front-line charities who feed vulnerable whanau.
- Medsalv: Medsalv was founded to make healthcare sustainable by keeping single-use medical devices out of landfill, providing value for health system
- Natural Paint Co.: Natural Paint Co was founded to create the world’s best paint that is healthier for people and our planet.
ACC Champion Workplace Injury Prevention
- Active Refrigeration: Active Refrigeration designs, installs, commisions and services all aspects of commercial and industrial refrigeration, cooling and ventilation systems.
- GCH Aviation: GCH Aviation is a premier helicopter, fixed wing and UAV operator providing diverse aviation services throughout New Zealand.
- HRS Construction Limited: HRS Construction Ltd specilises in commercial construction projects in the Canterbury region and throughout the South Island.
2degrees Champion Workplace
- Engeo Ltd: ENGEO consistently produces exceptional results for our clients, by employees who are passionate about engineering, geology, science and technology.
- Home: Home is a national construction and development company with a mission of social good.
- Trimble Navigation NZ Ltd: Trimble is transforming the way the world works by delivering products and services that connect the physical and digital worlds.
University of Canterbury Business School Champion Emerging Business
- Connect Chiropractor: Connect Chiropractic is a community driven practice who utilise a Koha Fee System to make Chiropractic Care accessible to all
- Noopii: Noopii is an award-winning social enterprise business, changing the world in sustainable healthcare products.
- Spritely Ltd: Spritely develops age-friendly technology for seniors so they can maintain their independence without compromising their health, safety or social connections.
Champion Emerging Leader
- Matty Lovell: Matty Lovell runs Anytime Fitness Cashmere and Electrify NZ Christchurch with the same ethos: their team is their superpower.
- Rebecca Miller: Rebecca, award-winning leader, shares her passion in Primary Industries. Her leadership results in unity and wellbeing safe environments leading to business excellence.
- Renee Walker: Renée Walker is authentic and passionate executive leader and board director, who specialises in in Business Transformation, Strategy and Culture.
Award 1. Champion CUSTOMER Experience – Small Enterprise
The Champion Customer Experience Award for Small enterprise recognises businesses or organisations that exceed customer expectations. Driven by effective leadership and an engaged workforce, these businesses act on changing customer demands and find creative and different ways to provide exceptional service.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| AKAROA DOLPHINS| RIVERSIDE MARKET| SHIZOKU MARTIAL ARTS |
Award 2. Christchurch Casino CHAMPION CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE - Medium/Large Enterprise
The Christchurch Casino Champion Customer Experience Award for Medium/Large Enterprise recognises businesses or organisations that exceed customer expectations. Driven by effective leadership and an engaged workforce, these businesses act on changing customer demands and find creative and different ways to provide exceptional service.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| HANMER SPRINGS THERMAL POOLS & SPA| MT HUTT SKI AREA| WHOLESALE SEEDS |
Award 3. Champion Producer/Manufacturer - Small Enterprise
The Champion Producer/Manufacturer Award for Small Enterprise recognises the region’s successful primary producers, agribusinesses and manufacturers of materials, products or technology. These businesses drive customer value through leading-edge innovation, operational efficiency, sustainable supply chain practices and high levels of employee engagement.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Sabelle Skin and Body Care (Produced Sheep Milk NZ)| TOTALSPAN NORTH CANTERBURY| TUATARA STRUCTURES |
Award 4. KORDIA Champion Producer/Manufacturer - Medium/Large Enterprise
The Kordia Champion Producer/Manufacturer – Medium/Large Enterprise Award recognises the region’s successful primary producers, agribusinesses and manufacturers of materials, products or technology. These businesses drive customer value through leading-edge innovation, operational efficiency, sustainable supply chain practices and high levels of employee engagement.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Link Engine Management
|
Award 5. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Champion Emerging Exporter **
The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Champion Emerging Exporter Award recognises businesses new to the international market that demonstrate innovative practice and sustainable export models. These businesses measure success by net return to the Canterbury and New Zealand economy, and through brand and reputational growth.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Banqer Ltd
|
Award 6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Champion Medium/Large Exporter **
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Champion Established Exporter Award recognises businesses that are successful on the international stage, and who also play an active role in the development and advocacy of the export community in Canterbury and New Zealand. These businesses show continued growth in chosen markets, invest in product development through R&D and have sustainable supply chains.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Natural Pet Food Group
|
Award 7. Rata Foundation Champion Community Impact – Small Enterprise
The Rātā Foundation Champion Community Impact – Small Enterprise Award recognises Community registered charities and not-for-profit organisations and their volunteers who positively impact our community. It recognises their commitment (both paid and volunteer), the drive and dedication of their Boards, the strength of their partnerships and collaboration within community and the difference they make in the Community through their outcomes.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Foodbank canterbury| THE HORORATA COMMUNITY TRUST| YWCA Christchurch |
Award 8. The Press Champion Community Impact - Medium/Large Enterprise
The Press Champion Community Impact Medium/Large Award recognises Community registered charities and not-for-profit organisations and their volunteers who positively impact our community. It recognises their commitment (both paid and volunteer), the drive and dedication of their Boards, the strength of their partnerships and collaboration within community and the difference they make in the Community through their outcomes.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| AVIVA CHARITABLE TRUST| THE CHAMPION| HE WAKA TAPU |
Award 9. Christchurch City Council Champion Business for Good
The Christchurch City Council Champion Business for Good Award recognises businesses who are committed to addressing social and/or environmental issues. These businesses drive action that sees positive social and/or environmental impact as an integral measurement of their success.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| FOODBANK CANTERBURY| MEDSALV| NATURAL PAINT Co. |
Award 10. ACC Champion Workplace INJURY PREVENTION
The ACC Champion Workplace Injury Prevention Award recognises a business and its leaders that have implemented a workplace injury prevention initiative, improvement or innovation that has had a meaningful and positive impact on the workplace injury prevention through improved health, safety or wellbeing for their workers. The initiative, improvement or innovation could be a product, service, technology, process, behavioural shift in the business, re-design of workplace environment, leadership development, and/or Te Ao Māori or cultural practice change.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| ACTIVE REFRIGERATION| GCH AVIATION| HRS CONSTRUCTION LTD |
Award 11. ChristchurchNZ Champion Innovation
The ChristchurchNZ Champion Innovation Award recognises dynamic businesses demonstrating product, service or business model innovation, that has been developed and applied to improve business performance, operational effectiveness or customer engagement.
These businesses are linked into the innovation eco-system and are strong community advocates of innovation to drive the Canterbury economy.
These businesses are linked into the innovation eco-system and are strong community advocates of innovation to drive the Canterbury economy.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Dawn Aerospace| MEDSALV| NATURAL PAINT COMPANY |
Award 12. 2degrees Champion Workplace Award
The 2degrees Champion Workplace Award recognises businesses committed to the health and wellbeing of their organisation, building an environment for their employees to succeed, and in doing so creating a positive impact on engagement, culture and the performance of the organisation.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| ENGEO LTD| HOME| TRIMBLE NAVIGAITON NZ LTD |
Award 13. UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY BUSINESS SCHOOL Champion Emerging Business
The University of Canterbury Business School Champion Emerging Business Award recognises emerging businesses that have demonstrated strategic growth, with an astute insight of the market they operate in, exhibiting entrepreneurial spirit as well as the solid foundations for sustainable success.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| CONNECT CHIROPRACTOR| NOOPII| SPRITELY LTD |
Award 14. Champion Emerging Leader
The Champion Emerging Leader Award recognises dynamic leaders who are ambitious in their outlook and vision, embracing innovation, resilience, and displaying a generous ethos of inspiring and investing in others. The value these leaders offer contributes to the strength of the business and the team, as well as the wider community.
OUR FINALISTS: |
| Matty Lovell- Electrify & Anytime Fitness| Rebecca Miller - MilkIQ| Renee Walker- Alliance group & Christchurch Symphony Orchestra |
**Our Export Categories (Award 5 and 6) are supported by ExportNZ Canterbury and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, who have collaborated with the Westpac Champion Business Awards to align their regional and national awards programmes.
Finalists in the Emerging and Established Export Categories will be shortlisted alongside the New Zealand International Business Awards (NZIBA’s), New Zealand’s premier business awards programme celebrating export success and international capability amongst New Zealand businesses.
Finalists in the Emerging and Established Export Categories will be shortlisted alongside the New Zealand International Business Awards (NZIBA’s), New Zealand’s premier business awards programme celebrating export success and international capability amongst New Zealand businesses.