Major & Supreme Award Sponsor

Our thanks to Air New Zealand for their generous sponsorship of the Supreme Award including their contribution of travel for the award winners. Air New Zealand is recognised as one of the world’s leading airlines and has been named 2010 Airline of the Year in the prestigious Air Transport World magazine awards, Best Airline at the 2010 Which? Magazine Awards in the UK, as well as winning two Skytrax Awards for the Best Airline Australia/Pacific and the Staff Service Excellence Award for the Australia/Pacific region. Recent Air New Zealand innovations have included the revolutionary new economy Skycouch as part of a new long haul experience, the end of the check-in queue for domestic passengers thanks to a raft of new technologies, the world’s first in-flight International Airline Concierge service and a $50 million investment in seatback on-demand in-flight entertainment on A320 and 767 aircraft.  Air New Zealand aims to become the world’s most environmentally sustainable airline and has a wide range of green initiatives in place to reduce and offset aircraft emissions.

New Thinking Award

Gen-i is a leading ICT provider in New Zealand and Australia, with a capability that spans the technology and telecommunications sectors to provide clients with seamless and integrated ICT solutions. A member of the Telecom Group, Gen-i provides services and solutions to corporate, government and business clients. Gen-i is at the forefront of helping clients take advantage of the convergence of IT and telecommunications, and the new opportunities this provides. Gen-i's success has seen it consistently ranked as the number one ICT company in New Zealand for both mind share and market share, according to the IDC Brand Awareness survey and IDC IT Services Tracker.

Iconic New Zealander Award

Westpac New Zealand Limited provides a full range of banking and financial services for personal, business, agribusiness, corporate and institutional customers. We’re also the banker to the New Zealand Government. As one the country’s largest full service banks, Westpac New Zealand Limited has over 1.2 million customers, around 200 branches and 500 ATMs nationwide, and over 5,500 staff.

At Westpac, we’re all about helping New Zealanders get to where they want to be. This means helping our customers and staff be confident about the financial decisions they make, and about achieving what they want in life. It’s also about social and environmental sustainability – and ‘walking the talk’ when it comes to helping our communities and businesses. We also support a wide range of programmes and organisations that Kiwis are passionate about, such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Sir Peter Blake Trust.

Life Sciences Award

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax and transaction and advisory services. It is one of New Zealand's largest professional services firms with more than 600 people in three offices and a client base that includes many of the country's leading companies. Ernst & Young aims to have a positive impact on businesses and markets, as well as on society as a whole. It encourages entrepreneurship, which leads to growth, jobs and prosperous communities and its people share their business skills and knowledge with others in their communities.

Investment & Business Award

BDO is one of the top five Chartered Accounting and Business Advisory firms in New Zealand. The company is proud of its hands-on personal approach and its partners' active involvement at all times. BDO has a strong local presence throughout New Zealand and offers businesses the support, opportunities and benefits of being part of a cohesive global network. It has the unique combination of international strength and local excellence.

Information & Communications Award

MetService, together with international brand MetraWeather, is the global leader in local weather - creating powerful weather intelligence and inspiring world-leading innovations that generate wealth and benefit people throughout the world. We don't just talk about the weather - we combine the creative, scientific and technological skills of our talented people from around the world to create great outcomes for our customers and all New Zealanders.

Science, Technology & Academia Award

The Royal Society of New Zealand is the national academy of scholars covering science, technology and the humanities, with a long history dating back to 1867. We promote science, technology and the humanities in education, in industry and in society. Our strength lies in the diverse range of activities we initiate and support, including administering research funds, publishing science journals, supporting science education in schools, offering advice to Government, and fostering international contact and co-operation in research. Our elected Fellows, Companions, members, and regional and constituent societies are the foundation of our organisation, providing valuable expertise.

Creative Award

Wellington = New Zealand's Capital of Creativity and Innovation. Wellington City Council aims to promote Wellington's reputation as New Zealand's centre of creativity and innovation in order to attract and retain smart, innovative people and creative, forward-looking enterprise.

Manufacturing, Design & Innovation Award

The Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI), Te Pūnaha Hiringa Whakaea, is the lead government agency driving New Zealand’s science and innovation sector. MSI has a strong enabling and connecting role across the government, business and science sectors in New Zealand, and a role in building New Zealand’s international profile as a smart country. By increasing collaborations and connections, MSI aims to create an environment where cutting-edge, real-world innovation can flourish. Ultimately, the goal is the creation of significant economic, social and environmental value for all New Zealanders through science and innovation.

Tall Poppy Statues’ Sponsor

Weta Workshop is a multi-award winning conceptual design and physical manufacturing facility servicing the world's entertainment and creative industries. Drawing on more than 20 years of filmmaking experience, five-times Oscar-winning design and effects supervisor Richard Taylor is intimately involved in all projects from concept through to delivery. Best known for its work on award-winning film projects, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, the Chronicles of Narnia, Avatar and District 9, Weta Workshop has the design and manufacturing capabilities to take on almost any project, ie conceptual design, weapons, armour & chainmaille, specialist props, vehicles, specialty costumes, models & miniatures, special makeup & prosthetics, public art & displays.

Network Sponsor

We’re an energy business - world leaders in geothermal generation, one of New Zealand’s largest electricity and gas retailers, and committed to renewable generation for New Zealand. We’re a big business for a small country – we have over 1,200 employees throughout the country. We are also one of New Zealand’s largest listed companies (NZX: CEN), with a significant asset base. But what really sets us apart is the fact we’re a people business – teams with diverse expertise and experiences are a big part of what makes Contact a success. We are passionate about what we do and are wholeheartedly committed to our customers, our communities and the careers of those who work here - so start exploring your future with Contact today.