The ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards annually honours and celebrates the accomplishments of Lower North Island based companies in exporting goods and services to overseas markets. These awards are organised ExportNZ with the support of various partners.
The Wellington Export Awards promote the benefits of exporting for businesses, as well as showcasing the industry’s success stories and contribution to the local economy. They also provide an opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange among exporters and other business professionals.
Embracing this year’s theme, ‘Tell your story,’ we want to shine a spotlight on the distinctive journeys that shape a company’s path to success. The Wellington Export Awards are a celebration of the countless stories etched into the fabric of global trade. From the inception of a business idea to the delivery of products across borders, each step in the exporting journey contributes to a story worth telling.
Celebrating its seventh year, we invite exporters from Wellington Central to Manawatu/Whanganui to share their stories. The Export Awards are judged by a panel of experienced exporting specialists drawn from ExportNZ, NZTE and ASB.
Announcing our finalists
Categories applicable
Best Emerging Business
The Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence Best Emerging Business award is back in this year’s ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards. We want to celebrate an exceptional exporting business that is in the early stages of their international growth journey, i.e. having an annual turnover of $5 million or less.
Additional conditions of entry:
Conflict of interest: Any potential conflict of interest between the entrant and a judge assigned to the company will be established prior to the circulation of the entrant’s written submission.
Confidentiality: All information provided to ExportNZ Awards judging panel as part of your awards entry will remain confidential to the panel and will not be made available to any third party without your permission.
Registration: The business entered in this Export Awards category is registered with the New Zealand Companies Office.
Investigation: The business entered in this Export Awards category is not under investigation by any New Zealand or international statutory body (e.g. ACC, NZ Police, Health and Disability Commission, IRD).
Catchment Area: The export earnings and revenue generating operations of the business are within the catchment area for the region in which it is entered. Auckland/Waikato: Northland, Auckland, Waikato Wellington: Wellington, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Manawatū Bay of Plenty: Area covering Waihi to Hicks Bay and down to Taupō Hawke’s Bay: Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua
Best Established Business
The CentrePort Wellington Best Established Business is dedicated to recognising success by net return to the New Zealand economy for more established businesses, with five years or more in export markets or, as a guide, will likely have annual revenue above $5 million.
Additional conditions of entry:
Conflict of interest: Any potential conflict of interest between the entrant and a judge assigned to the company will be established prior to the circulation of the entrant’s written submission.
Confidentiality: All information provided to ExportNZ Awards judging panel as part of your awards entry will remain confidential to the panel and will not be made available to any third party without your permission.
Registration: The business entered in this Export Awards category is registered with the New Zealand Companies Office.
Investigation: The business entered in this Export Awards category is not under investigation by any New Zealand or international statutory body (e.g. ACC, NZ Police, Health and Disability Commission, IRD).
Catchment Area: The export earnings and revenue generating operations of the business are within the catchment area for the region in which it is entered. Auckland/Waikato: Northland, Auckland, Waikato Wellington: Wellington, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Manawatū Bay of Plenty: Area covering Waihi to Hicks Bay and down to Taupō Hawke’s Bay: Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua
Excellence in Sustainability
The ContainerCo Excellence in Sustainability is dedicated to recognising businesses that embed sustainability into the fabric of their business, achieving international growth while having a positive impact on people and the planet.
Additional conditions of entry:
Conflict of interest: Any potential conflict of interest between the entrant and a judge assigned to the company will be established prior to the circulation of the entrant’s written submission.
Confidentiality: All information provided to ExportNZ Awards judging panel as part of your awards entry will remain confidential to the panel and will not be made available to any third party without your permission.
Registration: The business entered in this Export Awards category is registered with the New Zealand Companies Office.
Investigation: The business entered in this Export Awards category is not under investigation by any New Zealand or international statutory body (e.g. ACC, NZ Police, Health and Disability Commission, IRD).
Catchment Area: The export earnings and revenue generating operations of the business are within the catchment area for the region in which it is entered. Auckland/Waikato: Northland, Auckland, Waikato Wellington: Wellington, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Manawatū Bay of Plenty: Area covering Waihi to Hicks Bay and down to Taupō Hawke’s Bay: Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua
Excellence in Innovation
The Wellington Airport Excellence in Innovation Award is dedicated to recognising success in developing and commercialising innovation in international markets, incorporating intellectual property, strategy, processes, and monitoring.
Additional conditions of entry:
Conflict of interest: Any potential conflict of interest between the entrant and a judge assigned to the company will be established prior to the circulation of the entrant’s written submission.
Confidentiality: All information provided to ExportNZ Awards judging panel as part of your awards entry will remain confidential to the panel and will not be made available to any third party without your permission.
Registration: The business entered in this Export Awards category is registered with the New Zealand Companies Office.
Investigation: The business entered in this Export Awards category is not under investigation by any New Zealand or international statutory body (e.g. ACC, NZ Police, Health and Disability Commission, IRD).
Catchment Area: The export earnings and revenue generating operations of the business are within the catchment area for the region in which it is entered. Auckland/Waikato: Northland, Auckland, Waikato Wellington: Wellington, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Manawatū Bay of Plenty: Area covering Waihi to Hicks Bay and down to Taupō Hawke’s Bay: Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua
Judges' Choice
The Buy NZ Made Judges’ Choice Award gives special recognition for outstanding achievement in exporting. The winner is chosen from an entrant that does not win one of the four Best/Excellence categories.
Exporter of the Year
The ASB Exporter of the Year Award recognises the tremendous success of a business and its contribution to the wider Wellington region.
The business will have demonstrated sustained and outstanding performance and results in terms of:
A word from Cogo, last year’s Exporter of the Year winner
Applying for the sustainability category of Wellington’s Export Awards was important for Cogo. Not only to wave the Wellington flag but also the important sustainability one. The process was a lot easier and more efficient than other awards we’ve entered, whilst remaining thorough. We also attained great feedback from the judges that we have used to sharpen our pitch and processes. The night was a fantastic event celebrating with other Wellington businesses and we were blown away to take out Wellington Exporter of the Year. We did not expect it and we are thrilled to now promote this accolade abroad. I’d encourage any Wellington-based exporter to throw their company’s name into the hat.
– Josh Dry, Director Enterprise Solutions & Partnerships, North America & Asia-Pacific, Cogo.
