ITP Techblog

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare was the big winner at the 2021 New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards on Friday night, claiming the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year category. The Gala Dinner announcing all the winners was attended by a record crowd of 1300 including the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Auckland.

In selecting Fisher & Paykel Healthcare as the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year the international judges said, "Fisher & Paykel Healthcare are a global leader in respiratory care. When Covid hit, their 5000 employees rose to the occasion and rapidly re-engineered their business to deliver vital products the world desperately needed -  addressing, for example, the global shortage of ventilators. All while continuing to innovate and expand their healthcare product offerings, and expand its global reach".

Other big winners tonight were Halter and Moxion both taking out two Awards each. Halter wonthe Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product and the NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution categories. Meanwhile Moxion picked up the Auckland Unlimited Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution and Punakaiki Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year Awards.

The Hi-Tech Awards judges said the calibre of this year's entrants was at an all-time high, making the job of selecting winners exceedingly challenging for the more than 70 local and international judges. The judges assessed a record number of entries across 14 award categories. Commenting on the 2021 Awards, New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chair David Downs said it was great to hit so many highs this year despite the impact of Covid-19 in 2020. "Clearly the Covid-19 situation has thrown us a few curve balls in regards to the Awards programme over the last year and it's fantastic that we can all get out this evening and celebrate the successes of our great tech companies, and the contribution they are making not only to New Zealand's economy but also how they are leading us out of the pandemic with such innovative solutions."

In addition to announcing the category winners tonight, Wayne Norrie was recognised with the prestigious Tait Communications Flying Kiwi Award and inducted into the NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame. "Wayne is such a deserving recipient of this recognition. He has contributed so much to the New Zealand tech sector over the years and indeed the success of the Hi-Tech Awards. He is without doubt one of the great ambassadors and advocates for our industry" said Downs.

 

The 2021 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners are:

 

Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever 

Winner: Maria English

 

Visa Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good 

Winner: Student Volunteer Army & Custom D

 

IBM Most Inspiring Individual 

Winner: Craig Hudson

 

Auckland Unlimited Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution

Winner: Moxion

Highly Commended: Alimetry

 

Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Maori Company of the Year

Winner: MB Century 

 

Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution

Winner: Rocos

 

Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product

Winner: Halter 

 

Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service

Winner: Chnnl

 

NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution

Winner: Halter

 

Halo Consulting Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector 

Winner: NZTech

 

Punakaiki Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year

Winner: Moxion

 

Pacific Edge Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year 

Winner: Whip Around

Highly Commended: Lawvu

 

Soul Machines Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution

Winner: Nanolayr (previously known as Revolution Fibres)

 

PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award

Winner: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

 

Tait Communications Flying Kiwi Award

Recipient: Wayne Norrie