Four new categories have been included for the 2015 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, awards which recognise the achievers of the New Zealand Hi-Tech industry from start-ups to established businesses.
Announced today following the opening of entries for 2015, the categories recognise excellence in the product space covering software, services, hardware and mobile.
The four new categories for 2015 include:
• Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Product
• Best Innovation Initiative
• Best Technology Solution for the Public Sector
• Best Technology Solution for the Creative Sector
“For 2015 we have revamped the categories, so as to reflect the changing nature of the industry,” says Wayne Norrie, Trust Chair, NZ Hi-Tech.
“We’ve removed the export categories as just about every fast moving hi-tech company is or planning to export.
“We have brought in categories that recognise New Zealand rapid rise in the agritech and creative sectors as well as a category that recognise the great work taking place in the public sector.”
Norrie says the aim of the Hi-Tech Trust is to “acknowledge and recognise” excellence within the New Zealand Hi-Tech industry which is the third largest export earner in the country, generating over $7 billion in annual revenue - a sector that is growing at twice the rate of the economy as a whole.
The 12 categories for the 2015 NZ Hi-Tech Awards are:
• PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year
Read more: Finalists for NZ Hi-Tech Awards 2014 named
• Cisco Hi-Tech Emerging Company
• NZVIF Hi-Tech Startup Company
• Callaghan Innovation Best Technology Solution for the Creative Sector
• Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product
• New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Product
• UK Trade & Investment Most Innovative Mobile Technology product
Read more: Christchurch firms make NZ Hi-Tech Awards finals
• Grow Wellington Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service
• IBM Best Innovation Initiative
• Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product
• Fronde Hi-Tech Young Achiever
• Best Technology Solution for the Public Sector
Entries for the 2015 Awards will close at 5pm on March 2 2015, with finalists set to be announced at simultaneous events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on March 25.
Winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner in Wellington on May 15.