RW award winners named

Rural Women New Zealand has announced the category winners and finalists for the NZI Rural Women New Zealand Awards 2018.

“The NZI Rural Women New Zealand Business Awards are an opportunity to showcase the innovation and entrepreneurial excellence of women who own small rural businesses while also supporting their local communities,” says national president Fiona Gower.

“The judges continue to be impressed by the high calibre of entrants, who prove there is breadth and diversity of enterprise in New Zealand’s rural communities,” says Ms Gower.

“Each and every one of the businesses who entered is a winner in their own right and the judges found it difficult to make the final choice,” says NZI rural manager Jon Watson.

“It was especially pleasing to see strong entrants in the two new awards categories this year — Creative Arts and Rural Champion.”

“The finalists chosen were the entrants who fulfilled and excelled in all areas of criteria for each category,” says Access Community Health CEO Alison Van Wyk.

“We encourage any rural woman who owns a rural business to enter next year — the recognition, support and prestige of winning is of real value.”

The overall Supreme Winner will be announced at the Awards ceremony in Wellington, on Tuesday, 20 November. Awards winners:

Creative Arts: Sophie Siers — Millwood Press Limited, Hawke’s Bay

Emerging Business: Hannah O’Brien — Hunt and Gather Bee Company, Waikato

Innovation: Bridget Canning — WIZ Wireless, Wairarapa

Love of the Land: Marie Taylor — Plants Hawkes Bay, Hawke’s Bay

Rural Champion: Robyn McKenzie — Fly My Sky, Taumarunui