The Ignite Wānaka Chamber of Commerce has secured a new date for its Business Excellence Awards.

After being delayed by the challenges of holding an event in the Covid-19 environment, a new date for the event has been set for Saturday, June 11, at Rippon Hall. The original awards event was set for November 2021 and was first postponed to April. 

“We are delighted to be able to finally host this hugely popular event that celebrates success in our local business community,” Ignite Wānaka board chair Jo Learmonth said. 

“Holding the Business Excellence Awards is particularly important for our business community, after the past two years that we’ve all had to endure. We are a resilient community and we will get through these current challenges. Our awards gala dinner will be a special night to reflect on this resilience with each other and celebrate the efforts of all our finalists.” 

More than 60 businesses from around Wānaka entered the biennial awards, sponsored by Milford Asset Management.

Finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Outstanding in infrastructure/trades (supported by Findex): Batchelar McDougall, Dunlop Builders, Mitre 10 MEGA, R&R Plumbing, Uppercut Firewood 

Outstanding in professional services: Batchelar McDougall, The Film Crew, Ocula

Outstanding in tourism (supported by Lake Wānaka Tourism): Hook Wanaka - Lake to Plate, Lavender Farm, Wild Wire  

Outstanding in retail (supported by LOGIC1): Lavender Farm, Mitre 10 MEGA, Ocula  

Outstanding in hospitality (supported by Drive Accounting): Lavender Farm, Pembroke Patisserie, Red Star Burgers  

Outstanding in innovation (supported by Aspiring Law): Proppy.co.nz, R&R Plumbing, The Film Crew  

Outstanding in sustainability (supported by Queenstown Airport): Manage My House, Ripe, Wild Wire  

Outstanding young enterprise (supported by Air New Zealand): The Next Chapter, the Napery by Pacific Linen, Village Gift 

Outstanding not-for-profit (supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council): WAI Wānaka, Community Networks/LINK Upper Clutha, Wao 

Resilience and Diversification Award (supported by Todd & Walker Law): Pembroke Patisserie, The Film Crew, Wild Wire

Outstanding employer (supported by EASI NZ): Breen Construction, Manage My House, Ocula 

Outstanding individual (sponsored by Cardrona Alpine Resort): Anna Van Riel, Bridget Legnavsky, Mandy Bell

People’s Choice finalists (supported by the Wānaka App): Dunlop Builders, Lavender Farm, Mitre 10 MEGA, The Next Chapter, Ocula, Pembroke Patisserie, R&R Plumbing, The Film Crew, Village Gift

The winners, including the Supreme Business Award (supported by Milford Asset Management), will be announced at the gala dinner on June 11.

The independent judging panel comprises convenor Wayne Hudson, Ann Lockhart, Charlie James, and Meg Taylor. 

Due to limited capacity at the venue, there are only limited tickets available to the gala dinner and a waiting list is in place.  

Jo said Ignite was especially grateful to its sponsors. “Without their support we would not be able to hold the awards.” 

Alongside Milford Asset Management and all the category sponsors, the Ignite Wānaka Business Awards are also supported by Rippon Winery, Raspberry Creek, Entertainment Solutions, Wānaka Marquee & Party Hire, Metalworks Wānaka, Pacific Linen, The Messenger, Scope Media, Radio Wānaka, The Film Crew and the Wānaka App. 

PHOTO: The Film Crew