Structural and civil engineering firm Batchelar McDougall Consulting (BMC) was awarded the supreme winner at the Ignite Wānaka Business Excellence Awards held at Rippon Hall last night (Saturday June 10).

BMC, which has offices in Wānaka, Queenstown, Christchurch and Invercargill was acknowledged for its growth, strong customer relationships, research and development investment, and its focus on staff and robust governance.

More than 200 people attended the awards gala dinner which had been delayed from 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The past two years have been particularly challenging and it’s important that we take a moment to celebrate all that we have achieved as a local business community,” Ignite Wānaka chair Jo Learmonth said.

The awards gala dinner was attended by more than 200 people.

Convenor of judges Wayne Hudson said it was good to see a large number of entries despite the impact of business disruptions in the past two years.

“We [judges] appreciated the honest comments from entrants about how hard Covid had affected them and how they were dealing with the impact on their businesses,” he said.

“Hopefully they will have learnt something positive during the process of entering.”

Businesses competed in 12 categories with the winner in each category eligible for the supreme award.

WAI Wānaka chair and Criffel Station co-owner Mandy Bell was awarded the Outstanding Individual award. When accepting her award Mandy made an impassioned plea for us all to “do our bit” to make the Upper Clutha a better place for future generations.

Winners of each category are:

• Milford Asset Management Supreme Business Award: Batchelar McDougall 
• Outstanding in tourism (supported by Lake Wānaka Tourism): Lavender Farm  
• Outstanding in professional services: Batchelar McDougall
• Outstanding in hospitality (supported by Drive Accounting): Pembroke Patisserie 
• Outstanding in infrastructure/trades (supported by Findex): Dunlop Builders           
• Outstanding in retail (supported by LOGIC1): Ocula
• Outstanding not-for-profit (supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council): WAI Wānaka
• Outstanding in sustainability (supported by Queenstown Airport): Wild Wire
• Outstanding young enterprise (supported by Air New Zealand): Village Gift and The Next Chapter (joint winners) 
• Resilience and Diversification Award (supported by Todd & Walker Law): Wild Wire   
• Outstanding in innovation (supported by Aspiring Law): The Film Crew
• Outstanding employer (supported by EASI NZ): Ocula
• People’s Choice Award (supported by the Wānaka App): The Village Gift

The principal sponsor of the awards was Milford Asset Management and the following businesses donated their time, products and services: Scope Media, Radio Wānaka, Wānaka App, The Messenger, The Film Crew, Rippon Winery, Mitre 10 Wānaka, Entertainment Solutions, Wānaka Marquee & Party Hire, Metalworks Wānaka, and Pacific Linen.

PHOTOS: The Film Crew