Entry FAQs

When do 2025 entries open?

Monday, 2 December 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to keep in the loop.

What does it cost to enter?

There is no cost to enter the Awards. The cost of running the Awards programme is covered by our wonderful Sponsors and Supporters.

How do I work out what category to enter?

You can find out more about all of the categories here. That should give you an indication of which categories could be suitable to enter.

Is there a limit on how many categories we can apply for?

Yes, you can enter up to three categories for which you qualify. To find out what you qualify for, please visit our Categories & Criteria page.

What's a nomination?

This is the nomination of a deserving company or individual. We will reach out to encourage them to enter. Nominate using our online nomination form. 

We won an award last year. Are we disadvantaged if we enter again this year?

We encourage companies to re-enter. Entering and becoming a finalist year after year is valuable. The awards are judged on performance for the past calendar year, so the contents of a previous entry will be different to this year's entry.

However, there are some category-specific restrictions:

• Finalists in the Young Achiever category cannot be a finalist in the Inspiring Individual Category in the same year; in the advent of this occurrence, the entrant will be asked to select the category they will go forward in.
• Flying Kiwi, Young Achiever and Inspiring Individual awards are enduring accolades and previous years’ winners are not eligible to re-enter. 
• If your company has previously won the PwC Company of the Year Award, you are not eligible to compete in this category again. However, if you have won a different category in previous years, you may still participate in the PwC Company of the Year category. Furthermore, if your company has previously secured the PwC Company of the Year accolade, you remain eligible to enter any other category as long as you meet the respective eligibility criteria. If you have entered the PwC Company of the Year category previously but have not won then you are encouraged to enter again.

How can I be sure that we qualify as a Hi-Tech company?

There are no clear guidelines as to what qualifies you as a Hi-Tech company and the nature of the industry means the benchmark is continually shifting.

Our basic definition is companies that produce goods and services in the electronics, software, telecommunications, creative technology, biotechnology, physical science, agritech, robotic and gaming sectors.

If you fall outside of this, we are happy to discuss whether or not you are a good fit. Please contact us directly at info@hitech.org.nz.

Who sees my entry? How do I know that its contents will be kept confidential?

The Hi-Tech Awards entry process has evolved over 30 years and is one of the most robust and transparent in New Zealand. Once submitted, your entry goes directly to the entry portal and is held securely until the entry deadline closes. The entry convenor grants access to your entry to the relevant judges once all entries have been submitted. Each judge will only have access to the entries in their category.

All of the judges sign a non-disclosure agreement and are required to securely dispose of all electronic and paper copies of an entry as soon as judging is completed. Judges are also required to inform the Judging Convenor of any potential conflicts of interest upon receiving the list of entrants. If a conflict of interest is identified, the judge does not gain access to the entry concerned. If you have any concerns that a breach of confidentiality has occurred or your entry has been in any way compromised, you can engage with the Judging Adjudicator, who is appointed to ensure that all due process is adhered to.

Is my entry submission secure?

Our entry platform is built using Award Force, which ensures that your submissions are managed securely with industry-leading practices, including data encryption and compliance with global standards.

The deadline is 5:00 pm on Monday, 3 March 2025 - can I get an extension to this?

No. There are no extensions and no circumstances under which an extension will be given. The entry portal will close at the 5:00 pm deadline. We strongly recommend that you don't put yourself in this position and submit your entry at least 24 hours prior to the deadline. We will email you to confirm that it has been received, so you have plenty of time to follow up if you don't hear back from us immediately.

What is the most common mistake made in entries?

Not answering the question that was asked. Many entrants do not supply the information that was asked for. Sometimes, they provide a lot of other information - none of which is relevant to the question. Particular attention needs to be paid to what the question is asking for. We recommend that you go through and highlight the keywords in each question and then check your answer back to ensure you have fully addressed what has been asked for. Remember less is more, the character count limit is exactly that. Be as succinct as you can.

How important is what we put on the entry form?

If you don't answer the questions and don't state a compelling case for your company, then you will not make the shortlist. Some companies have asked why they have not made the list of finalists – and often, it has been because they have not articulated their case very well on the entry form.

A number of judges expressed frustration that positive, general market information that was known about a company was not reflected in an entry - usually to the entrant's detriment. So, if you have neglected to state that you have closed a significant deal or are globally ranked in your field, they can't consider that information in their judging, no matter how widely it is known. This issue often lies with the entry writer assuming that what they consider to be general knowledge doesn't need to be included - when, in fact, it is central to the story they are telling.

The judges for your category all possess a degree of expert knowledge that relates to the field you are in - but you need to assume that they know nothing about your products or your company, particularly the international judges, who are likely to have never heard about you at all. Make sure you tell your story well and within the criteria. Honing your story is one of the very positive side benefits of entering any awards. Getting someone from outside of your company to write your entry - or at the very least getting an intelligent outsider to review your draft - can help with this. But no writer can have the knowledge of your company that you do, and if you don't disclose all of the essential information, there is no way it can get into your entry.

When should we start writing our entry?

Leaving writing an entry too late to complete a comprehensive review process is at the heart of an entry not doing as well as it should. Ideally, start your entry pre-Christmas or in early January to ensure you include all the critical information. Judges notice entries riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors - which makes it very difficult to read and the judge's job more challenging. An error-free entry is going to put you in the best possible light. Again, it comes back to reading the criteria and the questions - and then supplying exactly what is asked for to give you the best opportunity to succeed. And remember, it doesn't matter how well-known your company is or how well it is performing; it can only be judged on what is on the entry form - so it is worth putting the time in to tell your story well.

Can I get help with the writing of our entry?

Yes, we have a number of writers available who have experience in writing, preparing and editing entries. These guys get busy, so best to contact them as soon as possible so they can best assist you with your entry. There is a charge for this service, and this can be discussed directly with your preferred writer.

Bill Bennett - bill@billbennett.co.nz
Doug Casement - doug@casement.com
Georgia Saxon - georgia@awardshop.co.nz
Nicolette le Cren - nicolette.lecren@perceptionpr.co.nz
Owen Scott – owen@concentrate.co.nz 
Helen Steemson - helen@wordsforbreakfast.co.nz
Shelley Grell – shelley@communicateit.co.nz 

I am not happy that the judges have been fair in their assessment - who do I talk to?

In the first instance email the entry coordinator at info@hitech.org.nz. Your concerns will then be relayed to the Judging Convenor and the Awards Adjudicator. They will investigate the issues you raise and come back to you with a response. It should be noted, however, that the judges’ decision is final and there is no requirement for the judges to enter into any discussion in regards to the merits of individual entries.

I am completing the entry form on behalf of a client, whose details do I register?

Register with your own details as this will give you access to the entry via your email address. Within the entry form, you will complete your client's contact details assigning the entry to them.

When will we find out who the finalists are?

The finalists will be announced at events held simultaneously in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.

When will we find out who the winners are?

The winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner at TSB Arena in Wellington on Friday, 23 May 2025.

Any other query...

If you have any other queries please don't hesitate to contact us at info@hitech.org.nz.