The Awards are open to any New Zealand business that meets the eligibility criteria. Businesses do not have to be an account or client of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to apply.
Stage Two entry process
Entry for the New Zealand International Business Awards 2012 programme is now closed. All entrants to Stage One will be notified of their results on Wednesday 29 June 2011.
If your company has been successful in progressing to Stage Two you will be required to complete a more detailed application form for your general entry along with separate application forms for any special categories you have chosen to enter.
If your company then progresses to the site visit stage you will be required to participate in a site visit from one of the assessors, this will take two to three hours and is your opportunity to showcase your company in person. The assessment team may have specific questions and in this case you will be notified in advance. Site visits will take place in September and October 2011.
The judging panel deliberates to choose the winners, which will be announced at an awards ceremony in March 2012.
General categories
- Best business operating internationally – under $10m
This award recognises success by net return to the New Zealand economy for businesses with total annual revenue under $10 million.
- Best business operating internationally - $10m to $50m
This award recognises success by net return to the New Zealand economy for businesses with total annual revenue between $10 million and $50 million.
- Best business operating internationally – over $50m
This award recognises success by net return to the New Zealand economy for businesses with total annual revenue of over $50 million.
Special categories
In addition to the general categories, applicants can enter one of the Ministry of Science and Innovation sponsored special categories.
- MSI Most Innovative Business Model in International Business
This award recognises innovative approaches and business models employed to maximise international revenue, control costs and risk, access markets, leverage networks and expertise. For example joint ventures, partnerships, strategic alliances, distribution channels, capital structures/investment, licensees, franchises, and acquisitions.
- MSI Best Use of Design in International Business
This award recognises the best use of design to succeed in a global market niche. Applicants will have achieved demonstrable success by using design to anticipate customer needs and by designing innovative products, services and brands.
- MSI Best Commercialisation of Intellectual Property in International Business
This award recognises success in developing and commercialising intellectual property (IP) in international markets; incorporating IP strategy, processes and monitoring.
- MSI Best use of Research and Development in International Business
This award recognises the role of research and development in making innovative products and services successful in international markets.
Leadership categories
The Emerging International Business Leader and Outstanding International Business Leader awards are proudly sponsored by KPMG.
Nominations are now open for the following leadership awards.
- Emerging international business leader
This award recognises the vision, commitment and success of an emerging leader in the internationalisation of New Zealand business. It will acknowledge overall results achieved through outstanding: planning, business model structures, operational management, research and development, financial strategy, product or service development, partnerships, and willingness to share. The nominee will also be an active role model and mentor.
- Outstanding international business leader
This award recognises the vision, commitment and success of an outstanding leader with a long history in internationalisation. It will acknowledge overall results achieved through outstanding: planning, business model structures, operational management, research and development, financial strategy, product or service development, partnerships, and a willingness to share. The nominee will also have been an active role model and mentor over many years.
Find out more about the leadership awards and how to nominate a business leader.
Nominations close on 19 August 2011.
Judges’ Supreme Award for International Business
All winners in general categories and special categories will be eligible for the Judges’ Supreme Award for International Business. This award recognises a company that has achieved outstanding success or filled a transformational role on the exporting landscape with a focus on sustainable results, practices and growth trends. Winners in the leadership categories are ineligible for this award.
Eligibility criteria
General and special categories
Applicants must:
- be a business registered with the New Zealand Companies Office, and
- have generated at least NZ$1 million in international revenue in the past financial year, or 12 month period; and
- have a history of at least three years operating internationally with
strong growth. Note: ‘strong growth’ can include increased market share, product expansion, new market entry, and revenue growth, for example.
All applicants must demonstrate:
- sustained and future commitment to international business and to New Zealand
- proven business strategies
- quality goods and services
- sound business and brand reputation, on and offshore
- sustainable business principles
- capacity and capability for future growth.
Leadership categories
Nominees must be New Zealand citizens or New Zealand residents.
Nominations are now open for the leadership awards.
Find out more about the leadership awards and how to nominate a business leader.
Nominations close 19 August 2011.
Terms and conditions
- The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
- Previous award winners can enter
- Current employees of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), ANZ and the Ministry of Science and Innovation cannot enter the awards
- Judges cannot be nominated in leadership categories
- Individuals who meet the entry criteria can nominate themselves for leadership categories
- All finalists and winners agree to media coverage
- All entry information is held on a commercial-in-confidence basis
- No entry information will be shared or distributed to third parties – but there is an option for companies to receive partner information from time to time
- NZTE reserves the right to cancel the programme or individual award categories within the programme
- NZTE reserves the right to change the timeline including the awards dinner and ceremony date
- Special terms and conditions apply to the $100,000 (plus GST) cash prize for the winner of the Judges’ Supreme Award for International Business.
Judges’ Supreme Award for International Business - terms and conditions
The winner of the Judges’ Supreme Award for International Business (‘the winner’) will receive NZ$100,000 (GST exclusive) based on the following terms and conditions:
- The prize money must be used for the purposes of furthering the winner’s internationalisation strategy
- The items this prize money may be used to fund include, for example:
- the winner’s participation in international trade shows
- education or professional fees for representative(s) of the winner at a tertiary institution, provided there is an obvious link to furthering the winner’s internationalisation strategy
- inbound visits by potential clients, distributors, franchisees, licensees, investors or other strategic partners of the winner
- outbound visits by representatives of the winner to meet potential clients, distributors, franchisees, licensees, investors or other strategic partners
- NZTE services for the winner
- offshore advertising, marketing or promotional campaigns for the winner.
- To access the prize, the winner must submit a proposal to NZTE about how the money will be spent, including quotes from suppliers, no later than June 2012
- NZTE will assess the proposal and approve it based on the criteria above, but ultimately at its sole discretion
- Once the proposal is approved by NZTE, the prize money can be claimed (in up to three progressive payments if preferred) by submitting an invoice accompanied by suppliers’ receipts to the value of NZ$100,000 (GST exclusive) to NZTE
- NZTE will reimburse the winner and will not pay suppliers directly
- The prize money is limited to NZ$100,000 (GST exclusive) and will not be increased for any reason, including exchange rate fluctuations
- The prize must be claimed or accrued by 31 December 2012
- The winner agrees to NZTE using the broad details of how the prize money has been spent in publicity for the awards
- Any tax obligations on the prize money will be the responsibility of the winner.
