The Waikato produced four winners at this year’s ExportNZ Awards.

Gallagher Group not only won Supreme Winner at the awards, but took home the award for Best Large Business, goods exporter too. This award recognises success by net return to the New Zealand economy for businesses with a total annual revenue of over $40million.

Gallagher Group is a global leader, based in Hamilton, in the innovation, manufacturing and marketing of animal management, security, fuel systems and contract manufacturing solutions.

“We're very pleased to be acknowledged in this way during our 80th year in business,” Sir William Gallagher, Gallagher CEO and chair, said.

“My father started the company in 1938 with the development of an electric fence. His approach to designing solutions that solve problems is still very much with us and today we're proud to be doing that across three industries for customers in 160 countries. 

“What's incredibly important to me are Gallagher people who have, and continue to, play a big part in our export success.  Our teams have created a wonderful culture and company and that's something to be celebrated.”

The award for Best Medium Business, services exporter, went to More4Apps. This award recognises success by net return to the New Zealand economy for businesses with a total annual revenue of $5 million - $40 million or revenue of under $5 million and have a history operating internationally with growth up to a maximum of five years.

For over 10 years More4Apps have been creating automation and integration solutions for users of E-business Suite (EBS) with an easy-to-use Excel interface. Designed and developed with input from customers, More4Apps products range from feature rich wizards to mobile applications to suit any area of a business.

John O'Keeffe, CEO and co-founder at More4Apps, said he, “felt very delighted and humbled to win this award”.

“This is an extraordinary win considering the other high-quality finalists in our category, CompanyX, Mindfull, and Valocity. We couldn’t be prouder of our New Zealand and international team for each playing a part in our win.

“We enjoyed celebrating with the Hamilton HQ on Tuesday with a morning tea, global celebrations are to come. We look forward to the future and continue our steady journey of growth," John said.

Endace Ltd won the Excellence in Innovation for Export Award. This award recognises excellence in using innovation as a key driver of overall business strategy.

Endace Ltd started as a New Zealand University research project in 2001 when the team developed the DAG™ Data Capture Card. Which, quickly redefined the packet capture market, and gained a reputation as the gold standard for accurate, reliable packet capture. Fifteen years on, they continue to set the benchmark for 100 per cent accurate packet-capture, Network Recording and Playback™ at high speed.

“Winning the Baldwins Excellence in Innovation Award at the Export NZ awards was great validation of just how good the team at Endace is,” Stuart Wilson, CEO of Endace, said. 

“For a Kiwi company with R&D based in Hamilton to be exporting critical security products to the world’s largest companies and governments – keeping their systems, and customers details safe, is a truly remarkable story.

“We have been innovating continuously for over 15 years, staying at the leading edge of technology – making us New Zealand’s most technically advanced security product company.  We are grateful to Export NZ, Air NZ, and NZTE for their support as we continue to grow,” he said.

Sir Patrick Hogan won the Exporters Champion Award for exemplary services to export. This is a special award recognising individual accomplishment. This award recognises those who over a period of time have contributed significantly to the export sector. It recognises those who go beyond the call of duty to share their experience, their networks, their leadership skills and wider talents to help foster the talents of others, develop business offshore, and promote New Zealand across the globe.

Sir Patrick Hogan is a breeder of thoroughbred racehorses from Cambridge, New Zealand. He is past chairman and past vice-president of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and past president of the Cambridge Jockey Club. He has been inducted into both the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2006) and the Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2005). He was made a CBE in 1992, and was knighted in 2000 for services to thoroughbred breeding and training.

This is the third year the Waikato has done well in the ExportNZ Awards, as in the past two years, the region has also won many categories, including Supreme Award by Waikato Milking Systems in 2016.

The aim of the ExportNZ awards programme is to inspire New Zealand firms to expand their business horizons, engage in exporting and grow internationally.

The ExportNZ Excelerator website showcases 144 amazing stories shared by finalists and winners of the ExportNZ Auckland & Waikato awards programme from 2009 – 2017.

The seven businesses that won their category from the ExportNZ Awards will go through to compete in the NZTE International Business Awards.

The event was run by ExportNZ and businesses wanting to participate in NZTEIBAs must enter the respective regional awards.  

Waikato and Auckland joined together to hold the Air NZ Cargo ExportNZ Export Awards on 28 June at ANZ Viaduct Centre, Auckland.

While you're here, don't forget to search through the Waikato Story's Toolkit to see if there is anything you can use for your business!