The winners of the 2016 NZ Hi-Tech Awards
Vista Group is the big winner at the 2016 Hi-Tech Awards, claiming the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year category.
A record breaking 900 people attended the awards ceremony, which celebrates the successes of New Zealand high-tech companies across 13 categories and to recognise two new Flying Kiwis.
In pictures: The 2016 Hi-Tech Awards 'The Oscars of NZ's ICT industry
In selecting Vista Group as the winner the judges said, “Vista Group demonstrated strong growth with an offering that truly has worldwide potential. They have a well thought out and tailored product and market knowledge and a fantastic understanding of their target market.
“They have a great management team that hasn’t been afraid to go hard to secure deals around the world and have forged a strong relationship in the key market of partner in China. A great Kiwi company taking on the world and winning.”
Vista Group has a great management team that hasn’t been afraid to go hard to secure deals around the world and has forged a strong relationship in the key market of partner in China.
Another big winner was 90 Seconds, winning two awards to take out both the IBM Most Innovative Company Award and the ATEED Best Technology Solution for the Creative Sector Award.
The judges stated: “90 Seconds is the Uber and AirBnB of video production, having developed a genuinely disruptive scalable model with global aspirations. They are achieving impressive revenue growth and expanding globally, while maintaining strong levels of profitability.”
“90 Seconds is well positioned to be a world leader in a $9 billion industry.”
The 2016 awards also introduced Maori Innovation Award which attracted a record number of entries for a new category. The inaugural award went to Precision Seafood Harvesting for its revolutionary technology that does away with traditional trawl nets to allow fish to be landed alive and in perfect condition.
#haka for inaugural Maori #Innovation Awardee Precision Seafood Harvesting #htanz @callaghannz pic.twitter.com/zRRL7eCkwB
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
The awards also named the two new Flying Kiwis, Katherine Corich, founder and CEO of Sysdoc Group and Sam Morgan, founder of Trade Me, who were inducted into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.
It’s great to be able to recognise their achievements on such a momentous night, says Wayne Norrie, chair of the New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust.
Congrats 2016 Hi-Tech Awards winners + new #FlyingKiwis @samfromwgtn @KatherineCorich #VistaGroup #htanz @PwC_NZ pic.twitter.com/SQVeLBVKn9
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
“Both Katherine and Sam have achieved so much. They have built up hugely successful businesses, they help and mentor the next generation of Kiwi entrepreneurs and they also do so much philanthropic work. It’s great that their peers recognise their achievements – both are very worthy recipients of the prestigious Flying Kiwi Award,” says Norrie.
Congratulations to Global Women member @KatherineCorich! 2016 Hi-Tech Awards #FlyingKiwis winner @NZHiTechAwards https://t.co/ptNzCU3qeF
— NZGlobalWomen (@NZGlobalWomen) May 22, 2016
Wayne Norrie @the 'Oscars of the hi-tech industry' #htanz @PwC_NZ @callaghannz #innovation pic.twitter.com/KBpgMgOO5N
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
Katherine Corich and Sam Morgan have built up hugely successful businesses, they help and mentor the next generation of Kiwi entrepreneurs and they also do so much philanthropic work.
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The complete list of the 2016 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners:
2016 Flying Kiwis and inductees into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
Katherine Corich
Sam Morgan
Fronde Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award
Winner: Danu Abeysuriya – CEO of Rush Digital
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Qual IT Best Technology Solution for the Public Sector Award
Winner: Silverstripe
IBM Most Innovative Company Award
Winner: 90 Seconds
ATEED Best Technology Solution for the Creative Sector Award
Winner: 90 Seconds
Callaghan Innovation Maori Innovation Award
Winner: Precision Seafood Harvesting
Read more: Customer-obsessed leadership is now the new standard: Forrester
Duncan Cotterill Innovative Software Product Award
Winner: Movio
Endace Innovative Hardware Product Award
Winner: Aeroqual
Vocus Communications Innovative Services Award
Winner: Flick Electric
NZTE Most Innovative Agritech Product Award
Winner: Outpost Central
Quick Circuit Innovative Mobile Award
Winner: Serato
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Winner: Figured
Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Winner: ARANZ Medical
PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award
Winner: Vista Group
'We are taking NZ hi-tech to the world!' #VistaGroup #htanz #analytics pic.twitter.com/73eXzrJgZT
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
The New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards is run by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, a not for profit organisation with 10 trustees: Victoria Crone, Bennett Medary, Al Monro and Ross Peat in Auckland; chair Wayne Norrie, John Fokerd, Neville Jordan and Jennifer Rutherford in Wellington and Christchurch-based Owen Scott and Andrew Plimmer.
Rob Lee @ibmnz 'Focus on #innovation that matters' #htanz pic.twitter.com/r5Cvf2HWlZ
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
Celebrate the growing confidence of NZ #hitech 'we do the weird stuff really well, we can take on the world' #htanz pic.twitter.com/MjKAdGCKVm
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
Gr8t start @NZHiTechAwards #innovation pic.twitter.com/Dg4tt6wULB
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 20, 2016
Send news tips and comments to divina_paredes@idg.co.nz
Follow Divina Paredes on Twitter: @divinap
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