Marketing firm and dairy farm recognised at awards
A Mapua-based digitial marketing company and a Golden Bay dairy farm whose solar farm generates enough power for 300 homes were recognised at the Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in Nelson.
The 34th Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Award winners were announced yesterday evening at a ceremony at the Annesbrook Events Centre.
More than 300 people attended the event, which honoured a handful of winners whittled down from 24 entries.
Mapua e-commerce firm Keetrax, which helps businesses with online sales, picked up the Supreme Business Awards, with judges acknowledging the company’s 95% annual growth.
A focus on diversifying into environmental projects paid off for Golden Bay Solar Farm, who scooped the Environmental Award.
While second-generation farmer Hamish Hills’ core business is dairy farming, recent years have seen him expand into forestry, property and carbon farming.
Recently, the farm added solar energy, and their solar farm, which feeds into the grid, generates enough energy to power more than 300 homes.
The Community Impact Award, which recognises a project or business that has a positive community role was given to two organisations this year: The Food Factory Charitable Trust and OneFortyOne.
Apex Accounting picked up the Top South Media Start Up Business Award, and Pete’s Natural Sodas won the 2 Degrees Small Business Award.
Residential home builder Milestone Homes Nelson Bays picked up the NZME Large Business Award, which recognises business with an annual turnover greater than $5m, and Under the Hood BBQ snagged the Mahitahi Colab Innovative Business Award.
NTCC chief executive Ali Boswijk said award nights were a way to acknowledge organisations doing well, especially in a challenging environment.
“Once again, the businesses of the Nelson Tasman region have demonstrated just how wonderful, resilient and varied they are.
“This year's awards clearly showed that while we have had some difficult times over the last few years, many businesses are really buoyant, strong, and looking forward to a very prosperous future,” Boswijk said.