Published in www.hitech.org.nz

A record number of entries from a record number of companies across New Zealand have lifted the bar for this year’s New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards, with finalists spanning the breadth of the technology sector.

“This year’s finalists span the full spectrum of the hi-tech sector with a record number of new companies entering for the first time. There has been a huge number of entries across the board and it’s awesome the level of entries in the start-up and young achiever categories has been so high” says Wayne Norrie, Chair of the Hi-Tech Trust. “The New Zealand technology sector is clearly in great shape for the future with so many dynamic young companies embarking on their big journey. The Hi-Tech trust is looking forward to following these new emerging companies and individuals and the diversity they bring to the tech sector. ” Norrie says.

The calibre of entries have also reached a new milestone. This has been reflected by the judges with several of them commenting that the quality of the entrants is at an all-time high this year. As a result the next phase of judging is likely to prove a challenge as the judges select the winners from such a strong pool of finalists.

This year’s strong line-up of international judges includes renowned American business strategist, Gary Hamel; co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak; founder of Massive, Claudia Batten; Director of Engineering for Google in New York, Craig Nevill-Manning; Senior Vice President for Cisco, Howard Charney; Andy Lark; CMO of Xero and Managing Director for IDG Ventures, Pat Kenealy.

A local judging panel of more than forty joins the international judges, including some of New Zealand’s most successful technologists and entrepreneurs. “We are truly thankful to all our judges, both here and around the world, who give up their personal time to assist us with judging. The Hi-Tech Awards continues to be New Zealand’s most important industry celebration of success and a wonderful showcase for our technology innovation and talent,” says Norrie.

Winners in each category will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner to be held at the TSB Arena, Wellington on 15th May 2015.

The finalists are as follows:

PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2015

• ARANZ Geo
• Serko
• Shotover Camera Systems
• Xero

Cisco Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year 2015

• ARANZ Medical
• Dbvisit
• Movio
• Totara Learning
• Unleashed Software
• Volpara Solutions

New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) Hi-Tech Start-Up Company of the Year 2015

• Career Engagement Group
• Mindscape
• Stretchsense
• Timely

Callaghan Innovation Best Technology Solution for the Creative Sector 2015

• Shift72
• Shotover Camera Systems
• StarNow
• Umajin

Duncan Cotterill Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product 2015

• ARANZ Geo
• GeoOp
• Mindscape
• Movio
• Umajin
• Vend

Grow Wellington Most Innovative Service 2015

• StarshipIT
• Straker Translations
• WaterOutlook

Endace Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product 2015

• Dairy Automation
• Phitek
• SnapitHD
• Solar Bright

UK Trade & Investment Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Product 2015

• Geozone
• IkeGPS
• Mobi2go
• Social Code

Fronde Hi-Tech Young Achiever 2015

• Danu Abeysuriya - Rush Digital
• Reuben Bijl - SmudgeApps
• Madeleine Martin - Ossis
• Ben O’Brien - Stretchsense
• Ben Richmond - Xero

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Innovative Agritech Product 2015

• Dairy Automation
• Fibre-gen
• Grasslanz
• SnapitHD

IBM Most Innovative Initiative Award 2015

• LiquidStrip
• Network for Learning
• Thank You Payroll
• The Mind Lab
• Wiki NZ

Qual IT Best Public Sector Technology Solution 2015

• Business.govt.nz
• Foster Moore
• Network for Learning
• Orion Health
• Water Outlook