Entry for the 2010 Awards is now closed

The winner of this category will be recognized as the overall, best performing, established, hi-tech company in New Zealand. Judged over a wide range of criteria it needs to demonstrate vision, leadership, innovation and success. This is the highest honour bestowed to a company by the hi-tech industry, with previous winners representing a who's who of successful New Zealand companies.

The winner of this category will be recognized as an emerging hi-tech business that has successfully made the transition from a strart-up with a 'good idea' to one that has a sound financial position and strong growth prospects. Entry may be made by nomination but this will be verified with the company concerned prior to judging.

The winner of this category will be recognized as a company that has successfully introduced an exciting new hi-tech service to the market. The service must be based on provision of software, hardware, or both and offer a clear value proposition to the end user that is able to be clearly differentiated from the competition. Entrants are expected demonstrate how this service positions the company for sustainable future growth and business success. It is anticipated that IT service providers, telecommunications companies, payments, financial processing, data hosting and related companies would be eligible.

The winner of this category will be recognized as a company that has commercialised an exciting software product - this may be a totally unique product or one that is built on an existing application or technology framework. The technology must offer a clear value proposition to the customer and be shown to be unique or able to be clearly differentiated from the competition. Entrants are expected demonstrate how this product or service positions the company for sustainable future growth and business success.

The winner of this category will be recognized as a company that has successfully introduced an exciting new hardware (electronic) product to the market. The technology used by the product must offer significant competitive advantages to the customer and be shown to be unique or able to be clearly differentiated from the competition. It should be manufactured to relevant international standards. Entrants are expected demonstrate how this product or service positions the company for sustainable future growth and business success.

This award recognizes the contribution of a New Zealand based journalist who has elevated and enhanced the profile of our hi-tech industries. Entry is by self or nomination. If not nominated by the nominee's employer, the entry will be submitted to the nominee for verification and acceptance of nomination.

The winner of this category will be an individual (aged 27 or less on the 1st May 2010) who has made an outstanding contribution to the success of a hi-tech company. It is expected that colleagues and/or business associates will nominate entrants in this category. The award is open equally to young business owners or employees.

Every year the NZ Hi-Tech Trust will celebrate hi-tech companies who have had their success acknowledged by other awards programmes throughout the year - The NZMEA Kiwi Hi-Tech World Beaters Awards are a chance for those of us at the Gala Awards Dinner to collectively celebrate our successes as an industry.

If you have won (placed first, second or third) an award, locally or internationally, over the last year (1st January - 31st December 2009), please let us know about it. Everyone that meets the entry criteria below will be acknowledged on the night. Everyone that is recognized will receive an NZMEA Kiwi Hi-Tech World Beaters Certificate of Acknowledgement.

On the 19th November, two new Flying Kiwis were inducted into the PricewaterhouseCoopers NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.

Entry is by nomination only, with selection at the discretion of the NZ Hi-Tech Trust.

The Flying Kiwi Award acknowledges those who have consistently achieved to the highest level and continues to inspire and amaze us all. This is the highest individual accolade bestowed by the industry and is only awarded to someone truly deserving of the title "Flying Kiwi".

Please let us know if there is anyone you know who should be acknowledged in this way: info@hitech.org.nz