Judges for the 2021 Ignite Wānaka Business Awards said they were impressed by the resilience and innovation of entrants, despite the challenges of Covid-19.

In announcing this year's finalists convenor of judges Wayne Hudson said it was great to see so many businesses entering the awards given the various lockdowns they had to endure.

“The quality of entries was excellent,” Wayne said. “Judges were impressed by so many businesses’ ability to adapt with Covid.”

More than 60 businesses from around Wānaka entered the biennial awards and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner in April next year. 

The dinner was due to take place on Saturday November 20 but Ignite Wānaka general manager Naomi Lindsay said that was no longer an option under alert level two.

Tickets to the awards gala dinner are on sale via the Ignite Wānaka website here.

Finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Outstanding in infrastructure/trades (supported by Findex): Batchelar McDougall, Dunlop Builders, Mitre10 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, Lavender Farm, Wild Wire.

Outstanding in retail (supported by LOGIC1): Lavender Farm, Mitre10 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, Village Gift.

Outstanding not-for-profit (supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council): WAI Wanaka, 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, Waste Free Wanda; Bridget Legnavsky, RealNZ; Mandy Bell, Wai Wānaka.

People’s Choice finalists (supported by the Wanaka App): Dunlop Builders, Lavender Farm, Mitre10 MEGA, The Next Chapter, Ocula, Pembroke Patisserie, R&R Plumbing, The Film Crew, Village Gift. Voting for people's choice will open early 2022.

The Ignite Wanaka Business Awards are also sponsored by Raspberry Creek, Entertainment Solutions, Wanaka Marquee & Party Hire, The Messenger, Scope Media, Radio Wanaka, The Film Crew and the Wānaka App.

PHOTO: The Film Crew