The region’s 27 finalists across nine categories for this year’s WBS Wairarapa Awards Finalists were announced at the White Swan Country Hotel on Thursday night.
Business Wairarapa chair Marie-Claire Andrews said she was delighted to see the quality of the entries for this year’s event.
“The WBS Wairarapa Awards is now firmly established as the premier celebration of our business community, and we have another exceptional group of finalists,” she said.
“We are incredibly grateful to Wairarapa Building Society [WBS], Trust House, and all of our category sponsors, along with partners Crombie Lockwood, Wairarapa Times-Age, Mediaworks Wairarapa, Carterton, Masterton and South Wairarapa District Councils, and SPLASH.”
Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday, November 14, at Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome.
Kiwi entertainment icon and much-loved television and radio personality Jason Gunn will be this year’s MC.
The following categories and finalists are:
Gibson Sheat
Team Award
- Clareville Bakery
- Inspire Living
- Juken NZ, Wairarapa Mill
Harcourts Hamill Realty Innovation Award
- My Trucking
- Palliser Ridge
- Saint Sebastian
Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Pakihi Māori Award
- Ihaka Construction
- Sienna Studio
The Wairarapa Youth Charitable Trust and The Wairarapa Boxing Academy
Masterton Trust Lands Trust Not-For-Profit Award
- Age Concern Wairarapa
- Hōkai Tahi Charitable Trust
- Masterton Food Bank
More FM Wairarapa 89.5 Service Award
- Anthony [Tony] Anisy – Farmers Trading Co.
- Kathleen [Katie] Manson – Farmers Trading Co.
- Cathie Morrison – Brackenridge Country Retreat and Spa
Tranzit Vibrant Award
- Greytown Festival of Christmas Golden Shears International Shearing Championship Society Inc.
- Featherston Booktown Trust
Wairarapa [WEDS] Youth-Friendly Award
- Powershop Masterton
- Wright Pools and Spas
- ZERO 6 Aviation Ltd.
- [Also a special acknowledgement to Tunnicliffe Builders Ltd – having won the award last year, the judges felt they should shine a light on other businesses this year].
WBS Emerging Award
- Cycling Tom Bike Shop
- Eden Skye Design
- Greytown Distilling Company Limited
White Swan Country Hotel Experience Award
- Driving Miss Daisy Wairarapa
- The Offering
- Wharekauhau Country Estate
- Tickets for the 2023 Wairarapa Awards are available through the Business Wairarapa website at www.wairarapachamber.co.nz
