NOMINATE A BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL
Do you know of an organisation and / or individual in the Waikato that you think deserves to be recognised for their success? Then we want to hear from you!
Nominations for the 2025 Waikato Business Awards are now open.
Nominate them, and if they enter, you'll go in the draw to win a $500 travel voucher thanks to our support sponsor Air New Zealand!
There are many benefits of entering the Waikato Business Awards, and multiple categories to enter. You also don't need to be a member of the Chamber to enter. Any organisation or individual in the Waikato can put themselves forward.
More information about the awards can be found here, or you can contact us if you have any questions.
Award Categories
Supreme Winner
Sponsored by Fosters Construction
Winners from Micro Business, Service Excellence, Business Growth, Innovation, International Trade, Marketing, Sustainability and People & Culture are all in contention to become Supreme Winner.
Judges select the best of the best and award them with the ultimate golden trophy. Winners join the prestigious list of others who have been before them.
CEO of the Year
Sponsored by The University of Waikato
Recognises Chief Executives/ Managing Directors, who demonstrate exemplary leadership.
CEOs and MDs are evaluated based on criteria including; the performance of the company that they
lead, the extent to which they have contributed to the company’s performance, overall leadership
qualities and the esteem in which they are held by peers.
Entry requirements can be found in the T&Cs.
Emerging Leader of the Year
Sponsored by 2degrees
Recognising emerging leaders, who have significantly contributed to an organisation.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of
$500,000 excl GST.
Small Business
Sponsored by Sleepyhead
Recognises excellence in organisations with an annual turnover up to and including $1 million per year, which have achieved overall significant growth or performance as a result of effective planning and delivery.
Entry requirements: Minimum 1.5 full time equivalent employees and an annual turnover up to and including $1 million excl GST.
For Purpose
Sponsored by Trust Waikato
Recognises excellence in organisations that apply commercial strategies to maximise improvements in community wellbeing, reinvesting profit or surplus from trade to achieve its social mission.
Entry requirements: Minimum 1.5 full time equivalent employees, with verification of charitable status.
Innovation
Sponsored by Company-X
This category recognises organisations that have enhanced their success through innovation - both in thinking and implementing of an idea. An innovation can be in a product / service / technology or process.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $1 million excl GST.
Marketing
Sponsored by Kiwibank
This category recognises businesses that show an outstanding example of a marketing project where research was used to validate performance. Examples of performance include increasing customer loyalty, retention, satisfaction, profitability and/or brand awareness.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of
$1 million excl GST. Whilst 3rd parties may have created and assisted in completing the project relating to this entry, the organisation entered must be the beneficiary.
Business Growth & Strategy
Sponsored by Deloitte
This category recognises organisations that have achieved significant business growth during the last two years as a result of effective strategic planning and actioned delivery.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover of at least $1 million excl GST.
Service Excellence
Sponsored by Tompkins Wake
This category recognises organisations that have succeeded through showing consistent dedication to superlative service and demonstrates its commitment to the customer through its service policy, staff training and/or other specific means.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $1 million excl GST.
Community Contribution
Sponsored by Montana Food and Events
Recognises organisations whose ongoing work or specific project(s) have resulted in outcomes to the community which are visionary, have high impact and are transformative, embodying the qualities that define excellence in contribution. This includes outstanding generosity, creativity, innovation, commitment and courage.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $500,000 excl GST.
International Trade
Sponsored by Skypoint
Recognises businesses that successfully work within, and captures the benefits of, the global market, demonstrating outstanding International Trade achievements, sustainable growth and results.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $1 million excl GST.
Sustainability
Sponsored by Wintec Te Pūkenga
Recognises organisations, be they commercial or charitable, that embrace sustainable practices in daily operations that reduce the impact on the environment and or provide product or services that have positive environmental and or social outcomes.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and an annual turnover in excess of $500,000 excl GST.
People & Culture
Sponsored by Hamilton Airport
Recognises a business that has demonstrated strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating, high performing and supportive workplace environment to maximise the full potential of its team and create a values-based culture.
Entry requirements: minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $500,000 excl GST.
