Categories in the Farmer Autovillage Tauranga Business Awards 2025
The big question: which category should I enter?
We have recently simplified the categories to showcase the exemplary businesses leading their industries.
There are three types of categories:
- Sector Excellence
- Business Practices
- Public and Judges’ Choice
See the category descriptions below. You’ll also see more specific details when you apply. The application form saves as you go, so you can start and come back to complete it later if you like.
If you have any questions, please email events@tauranga.org.nz
Award Categories
Sector Excellence Categories
Recognises businesses that have been earning revenue for three years or less, who are sustaining significant business growth. As a result of effective planning and delivery, they are commercially trading and earning revenue.
Note: your business may have existed for longer than 3-years, but as long as you haven’t started to earn revenue until recently.
This award celebrates businesses that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in manufacturing by recognising those who excel in production processes, quality control, innovation, and strategic planning, contributing significantly to the industry and adding value to customers.
Recognises a business that is maximising the benefits offered by trading in the global marketplace and is achieving sustainable growth. International Trade includes both importing and exporting via a product, service or technology, so long as the business primarily resides within the wider Tauranga and western Bay of Plenty region.
This category celebrates businesses that have successfully commercialized R&D to create a groundbreaking product, service, or technology that has made a significant impact in the marketplace.
This category is for all the other industry change-makers who are not in manufacturing, international trade (importing or exporting), or emerging business categories.
It is for those domestic businesses who are leading their industry to new horizons and have demonstrated they are not just great businesses within their industry, but they setting new standards in their industry. Examples of businesses could be from the logistics, service, health and fitness, professional services, tourism, or retail sectors.
Recognises excellence of a Maori or Pasifika business in the Tauranga and western Bay of Plenty, through demonstrating their business acumen and achievement, while also improving social and cultural outcomes for their community.
Best Business Practice Categories
Do you have a rising star in your organisation, poised to become a future leader? This award celebrates individuals who are on the path to becoming decision-making executives, general managers, partners, or regional managers. This award recognises those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to training, growth, ambition, ethics, people, business strategy, and execution. Future partners, middle-managers, new entrepreneurs are eligible to apply, as this category is for those who are not yet at the top of their organisation’s hierarchy locally.
This award celebrates entities (businesses, public or not-for-profits) that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in marketing, communications, and impact through innovative strategies, creative campaigns, and engagement with their target audience. Showcase your success stories, share your innovative approaches, and let us celebrate your contributions to the marketing landscape. Your campaign can be local, national or international, but you just need to be based within the wider Tauranga and western Bay of Plenty region.
Is your organisation a standout in creating an exceptional workplace? This award celebrates businesses that provide exceptional, supportive and engaging work environments for their staff by prioritising employee well-being, fostering professional growth, and maintaining a safe and positive company culture. Private, public and not-for-profit entities are eligible to enter as long as they are based in the wider Tauranga and western Bay of Plenty region.
The winner will receive a $15,000 study voucher from the University of Waikato to help you continue to invest in your team. Some T&Cs apply, but how cool is this bonus prize on top of the brand recognition of being known as the employer of the year!!!
Public & Judges’ Choice Categories
While all other categories are decided by our independent judges panel, this award is voted by the public. All entrants in the Farmer Autovillage Tauranga Business Awards are automatically entered into this Award. Voting will be available once applications close
The judges will decide which category winner most deserves to be named Tauranga’s Business of the Year.
The judging process
Once applications close, there are 3 next stages:
Stage 1: Our panel of independent judges will first review the applications to identify the finalists for each category to proceed to the next stage.
Stage 2: If you are a finalist, we will contact you to arrange a time to meet. They will also provide a list of key points that they will want to discuss in more detail with you when you meet. This may or may not involve a visit of your workplace if that’s relevant for your category.
Stage 3: The winners will be announced at Awards Ceremony (13 February 2025). After the Awards ceremony, we will provide summary feedback from the judges.
If you’re not a finalist, we will still contact you shortly after the finalists have been announced, and we will provide summary feedback from the judges on your application. We encourage you to also attend the Awards Ceremony to get inspired and motivated by the winners to apply in the future.
Confidentiality
- All award entry documents and forms are treated as highly confidential, with restricted access to the applications.
- Our judges sign a confidentiality agreement.
- Judges are required to declare conflicts of interest and the judging convenor approves how the individual will appropriately manage their conflict before accessing the applications.
- Any information supplied or shared by the applicant is strictly confidential with tightly controlled access to information.
- The rationale of the independent judges is confidential as we cannot share other candidates’ information. We will endeveour to provide feedback to the applicants. Judges decisions are full and final.