Call for entries in hi tech awards

The 2004 Westpac New Zealand Hi Tech Awards will be held in Wellington for the second time since the Awards began 11 years ago, and the organisers are now calling for entries.

Entrants are directed to www.hitech.org.nz for entry forms.

Selwyn Feary, managing director of web design company Shift Wellington and chair of this year's Awards Committee, said the awards event theme this year is the "art of technology."

"We feel this fits with Wellington's reputation for arts and culture, and creativity is a strong theme across many local industries. The arts and sciences in New Zealand have a history of combining to produce ideas and organisations that contribute to not only the economy but also the creative wealth of our country. We need to recognise our quality hi tech organisations in the same way we celebrate our sports people, our art forms and the successes of the wider business sector," Selwyn said.

Westpac New Zealand is continuing its role as principal sponsor of the Awards said Bruce McLachlan, General Manager Business Banking.

"Creativity and innovation are major elements in the New Zealand way of doing business, and are what the world envies about us. That's why we are particularly proud to support this year's theme of the Art of Technology in a forum where new thinking and ways of doing business are shared among participants in one of New Zealand's most dynamic and economically significant industries," he said.

There are 10 sponsored category awards, and the ultimate prize is the Westpac Company of the Year Award.

Entries close 8 October.

This year also sees the continuation of the Flying Kiwi Award which was introduced last year and requires individuals to be nominated. This award celebrates the New Zealander who has achieved significant success in the hi tech sector for themselves and their organisation through immense and sustained personal effort.

The inaugural winner was Sir Angus Tait of Tait Electronics for his huge contribution to the industry over many years. Winners of the newly named Tait Electronics Flying Kiwi Award are added to the New Zealand Hi Tech Council's Hall of Fame.

The Awards dinner is to be held at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa on November 13 and tickets are available on the website www.hitech.org.nz.

Categories for this year's awards are:

Westpac Hi Tech Company of the Year Award

Crown Research Institutes' Biotechnology Company of the Year Award

Avnet Electronics Company of the Year Award

Microsoft Software Company of the Year Award

Tait Electronics Flying Kiwi Award

Dynamic Controls Deal of the Year Award

Navman Emerging Company of the Year Award

Morel & Co High Growth Company of the Year Award

Prolificx Marketer of the Year

Precision NZ Most Innovative Product of the Year Award

Adilam Young Achiever Award