Published on the 09/05/2011 | Written by Newsdesk
Rakon chips in big time winning both the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award and the NZTE Hi-Tech Company of the Decade Award…
The international judging panel were impressed by all five contenders for the Company of the Decade Award, commenting that, “collectively the companies give great weight to the argument that geography is not destiny – you can build a great global business no matter where you start from”, but described winner Rakon specifically as “gutsy and innovative, with an excellent team and spectacular growth”, and “a company that is truly international in appeal”.
The winners this year were announced in front of a record number of attendees in Wellington, with several first time entrants walking away with awards including Mi5 Security, VoucherMob, YikeBike, Foster Moore and RedVespa.
The awards were judged by a panel of 48 local judges and 11 international judges including Dell founder Michael Dell, Howard Charney, Senior Vice President, Cisco and Gary Hamel, Fellow, World Economic Forum and the Strategic Management Society.
“Despite the challenges many companies have faced this year, both through natural disaster and tight market conditions in the wake of the global recession, all of this year’s entrants have demonstrated that New Zealand technology companies are resilient, ambitious, innovative and ready to take their businesses to the rest of the world,” says NZ Hi-Tech Trust Chair, Wayne Norrie.
The yearly awards recognise excellence across New Zealand’s software, electronics, biotechnology, telecommunications and creative technology industries.
The 2011 NZ Hi-Tech Awards winners:
NZTE Hi-Tech Company of the Decade: Rakon
PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2011: Rakon
NZX Hi-Tech Emerging Company 2011: Foster Moore
Highly Commended: Biomatters
Ministry of Science and Innovation Best Hi-Tech Start-up 2011: VoucherMob
NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year 2011 (Under $5million): SERKO
NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year 2011 (Over $5 million): Orion Health
Recruit IT Hi-Tech Employer of Choice Award 2011: Redvespa
Vodafone Most Innovative Product from an Emerging Market 2011 – Mobile Technologies: Mi5 Security
Duncan Cotterill Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award 2011: SERKO
Highly Commended: Orion Health
HiFX Innovative Hi-Tech Services Product Award 2011: Konnect
Dell Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award 2011: YikeBike
Tait Radio Communications Special industry award: Jenny Morel
Swaytech Hi-Tech Journalist Award 2011: Anthony Doesburg
Maxnet Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award 2011: Sarah Perkin
