Record number attend gala dinner
Highlights:
- Pushpay named PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year
- Frances Valintine inducted into the NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
- RedShield Security takes out two awards
- Record number of entries
- 910 attendees at record-breaking gala dinner
Pushpay was the big winner at the 2017 Hi-Tech Awards gala dinner in Auckland tonight, claiming the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year category and the IBM Innovative Company Award. A record breaking 900 people attended the awards dinner, held to celebrate the successes of New Zealand hi-tech companies across 13 categories and to recognise the 2017 Flying Kiwi, Frances Valintine.
In selecting Pushpay as the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year, the international judges said, “Pushpay was first to recognise a worldwide unserved market need: credit and collections help for churches and charities. They have combined hi-tech with an innovative business model and quickly gained impressive traction both locally and in America; as a result they are now in a strong position to dominate those markets even as they diversify their product line towards more conventional commercial customers. Pushpay is solidly profitable and a truly great example of nimble, fast-moving Kiwi innovation."
Another big winner tonight was RedShield Security, garnering two awards – the Duncan Cotterill Innovative Software Product Award and the Kiwibank Innovative Services Award.
The judges remarked, “We were impressed with RedShield’s proprietary, patent-pending technology. RedShield uses a clever combination of security shields and consulting services to protect and mask clients’ security vulnerabilities and extend the life of their complex, high-value web applications. This approach allows fast, secure deployment, whilst the underlying security flaws in clients' core applications can be addressed over time. RedShield's IP is a complex set of algorithms and processes, which scan and shield web-apps to address both technical and business logic vulnerabilities.”
The Hi-Tech Awards judges, said the calibre of this year’s entrants was at all-time high, making the job of selecting winners exceedingly challenging for the more than 50 local and international judges who assessed entrants across the 13 award categories.
Tonight also marked the unveiling of the 2017 Flying Kiwi, Frances Valintine, founder and Chair of the MindLab by Unitec and recent founder of the Tech Futures Lab.
New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chair Wayne Norrie said it’s great to be able to recognise the achievements of Frances on such a momentous night.
“Frances has achieved so much and is truly an inspiring and passionate individual. She is changing the way people think about technology and the pivotal role that it plays in our lives, not only today, but critically, how important it is to our future as a country. Frances is just an awesome person and a true role model for us all. It’s great that her peers recognise the contribution that Frances is making to New Zealand. She is truly a worthy recipient of the prestigious Flying Kiwi award,” said Norrie.
The 2017 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners are:
2017 Flying Kiwi and inductee into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
Frances Valintine
Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award
Winner: Aliesha Staples
Highly commended: Kendall Flutey
Qual IT Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Sector Award
Winner: Orion Health & HealthOne
IBM Innovative Company of the year Award
Winner: Pushpay
ATEED Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector Award
Winner: Shotover Camera Systems
Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Maori Innovation Award
Winner: Biolytix
Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award
Winner: RedShield Security
Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award
Winner: Adherium
Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Services Award
Winner: RedShield Security Highly commended: Navilluso Medical
NZTE Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Agritech Sector Award
Winner: Compac
Quick Circuit Most Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Award
Winner: oDocs EyeCare
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Winner: Latipay
Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Winner: Timely
PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award
Winner: Pushpay
The NZ Hi-Tech Awards
Now in its 23rd year, the New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards celebrate the success of our producers of goods and services from the software, electronics, telecommunications, mobile, agritech, creative and other hi-tech industries. The Awards are run by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that supports and promotes the wider industry. The board is made up of ten trustees: Bennett Medary, Vaughan Rowsell and Erin Wanbrough in Auckland, chair Wayne Norrie, John Fokerd, Kirsty Godfrey-Billy and Jennifer Rutherford in Wellington and South Island-based Owen Scott, Helen Shorthouse and Ian Taylor.