SUPREME AWARD:
CATEGORY AWARDS:
The Most outstanding fledgling business
A start-up business which is under two years young, smart, quirky, or just very professionally set up.
Winner:
Finalists:
Most outstanding transitional business
A promising business which has moved beyond the start-up phase and is two or more years old, which has a proven track record and some or all of the plans/people/systems/processes in place to make a well-above-average future a reality. This Award seeks to recognise a business planning for and/or coping with the changes required to take a business through expansion and significant growth, and which has demonstrated financial success.
Winner:
Finalists:
Most outstanding triumph over adversity
A business which has succeeded in spite of challenges beyond the usual. This may be due to due to personal issues the owner has had to deal with, circumstances beyond their control, or unexpected setbacks.
Winner:
Finalists:
Most outstanding lifestyle business
A business which epitomises the ability to integrate business and lifestyle, with the owner(s) to take advantage of its flexibility to fit income generation around spending time on family or leisure activities or other pursuits. While lifestyle is an important judging criterion, this business must still demonstrate its economic viability.
Winner:
Finalists:
The NZBusiness Most innovative business
This is a business which demonstrates a new or clever way of going about things, or which is conceptually innovative. A new product or service developed by the business owner may be the prime focus of an entry in this category.
Sponsored by 
Winner:
Finalist:
Most inspired use of technology
A business which leverages technology in many guises to enhance efficiency, mobility and keep overheads to a minimum. In this category, judges are not necessarily looking for a business whose core business is technical (though it may be), but one where the owner makes good use of technology to gain efficiencies, for instance through time- or cost-saving, or by delivering a service remotely using technology. It may also apply to a business which develops its own technology to deliver a core product or service to clients.
Joint winners:
The BNI Most inspired use of marketing
A business which punches above its weight in terms of getting the word out, achieving profile and attracting business. Typically, this Award recognises a business which knows how to find potential customers, uses a variety of media effectively and which understands how to communicate with them and get them to take the next step towards a purchase.
Sponsored by 
Winner:
Finalists:
The Bizbuzz Most community-minded business
Sponsored by 
A business which gives back to its community, e.g. local, regional or industry sector, in ways, shapes or forms which benefit the community significantly. This Award is intended to highlight a business where the community involvement is not what the business is about, but part of how it goes about doing whatever its core business is. Businesses whose main objective is to benefit the community should consider entering other categories, and if they enter this one, will need to clarify what part of what they do is not their core business in order to meet the criteria for this Award.
Winner:
Finalists:
The People's Choice Award
Winner:
