What NZ Hi-Tech Awards does

The NZ Hi-Tech Awards is an annual awards and recognition programme administered by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, a registered charity (CC57991) established in 2009. Originally launched in 1994 as the VSI Electronics Excellence Awards, the programme has run for over 30 years and now recognises excellence across ICT, software, biotechnology, creative, telecommunications, and digital media sectors in New Zealand. The awards feature a two-round judging process involving more than 80 local and international judges, with finalist announcements held simultaneously in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, culminating in an annual black-tie gala dinner that has drawn up to 1,300+ attendees (2024 record) and 1,000+ at the 2025 30th anniversary celebration.

The programme is free to enter and is monetised through corporate sponsorship (a multi-tier sponsor stack including PwC, Xero, Tait Communications, NZTE, ASX, Datacom, Kiwibank, Fujitsu, NZX, and others) and gala dinner ticket sales (NZ$425 individual / NZ$378 discounted / NZ$4,250 table of ten, ticketed via Humanitix). All profits are reinvested into the sector through the Hi-Tech Foundation, which operates the Leading Light Scholarship Programme (with First Foundation), the Hi-Tech Endowment Fund, and the Matauranga Māori / Land of Voyagers education programme. Operations are supported by contractor SwayTech Ltd, and the Trust is governed by a volunteer board of trustees including Chair Marian Johnson.

Name

NZ Hi-Tech Awards

Legal name

New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust

Website

https://hitech.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The NZ Hi-Tech Awards is a 30+ year-old annual awards programme administered by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust that recognises New Zealand's top technology companies and individuals. It operates a two-round judging process, draws 300+ entries and 1,300+ gala attendees annually, and is funded by corporate sponsorships and ticket sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Awards and Recognition

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting) (MPAGAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarships, Grants & Donor-Funded Awards Management (EDALAJAB), Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG)

Keywords

• Tech industry awards
• Hi-tech recognition
• Awards programme
• Technology events
• Sector recognition

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Awards Programme Operations: The NZ Hi-Tech Trust is a not-for-profit organization. All profits generated by the Awards programme are reinvested by the Trust to ensure the continuance of the programme and to benefit the long-term development of the industries it supports.
2. Gala Dinner Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from gala dinner ticket sales at $425 per individual (general admission) or $378 for entrants/sponsors/supporters/VIPs. Tables of ten available at $4,250 (general) or $3,780 (discounted). Booking fees of 2.25% + 30c per ticket apply via Humanitix.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The NZ Hi-Tech Awards is an annual awards and recognition programme celebrating excellence across New Zealand's technology sector, including ICT, electronics, software, biotechnology, creative, telecommunications, and digital media. Companies enter through an online portal and winners are announced at regional finalist events and an annual gala dinner. The programme also administers the He Whetū Mārama Ngā Karahipi / Leading Light Scholarship, the Hi-Tech Endowment Fund, and the Matauranga Māori - Land of Voyagers education programme.

Product overview

The NZ Hi-Tech Awards operates as a comprehensive awards and education program administered by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust. The core offering is the annual NZ Hi-Tech Awards which recognizes excellence across multiple technology categories including software, agritech, deep tech, creative technology, manufacturing, and sustainable solutions. The awards are complemented by the Hi-Tech Foundation's scholarship programme (He Whetū Mārama Ngā Karahipi / Leading Light Scholarship) which provides financial support for technology students, an endowment fund for sector capacity building, and the Land of Voyagers education programme celebrating Māori STEM achievements. Entry submissions are managed through the Award Force online portal, with winners announced at annual gala dinner events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame - Flying Kiwi: Annual recognition of individuals who exemplify qualities contributing to outstanding business success in the NZ hi-tech sector
• Hi-Tech Foundation
• He Whetū Mārama Ngā Karahipi / Leading Light Scholarship Programme
• Hi-Tech Endowment Fund

Products and services

• NZ Hi-Tech Awards Annual awards programme recognizing excellence across New Zealand's hi-tech sectors including ICT, software, agritech, deep tech, creative technology, manufacturing, sustainable solutions, and Māori technology companies. Open to NZ technology companies entering up to three categories per year.
• He Whetū Mārama Ngā Karahipi / Leading Light Scholarship Programme Financial scholarship programme administered by the Hi-Tech Foundation in partnership with First Foundation, providing multi-year support for individuals entering the technology sector with preference for applicants who increase innovation, life opportunities, aspirations, community engagement, empowerment, and well-being, including Māori and Pasifika involvement.
• Hi-Tech Endowment Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Record 300+ entries in 2026 with year-on-year increase in submissions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor and naming partner for the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year award. Provides premium sponsorship and brand association with the top company of the year category.
• XerocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever award category, supporting recognition of emerging talent in the NZ tech sector.
• Tait CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming sponsor for the Flying Kiwi Hall of Fame award. The partnership has been long-standing, with Flying Kiwi being the most prestigious individual recognition.
• DatacommajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual award category.
• BraemacmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Manufacturer of the Year award.
• KiwibankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future award.
• New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution award, supporting recognition of agricultural technology innovation.
• ASXmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year award.
• 2040 VenturesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year award category.
• Christchurch AirportmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good award.
• FujitsumajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution award.
• NZXmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution award.
• Consult RecruitmentsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector award.
• Duncan CotterillGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution award.
• GreenMountsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor with Poutama Trust for the Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year award.
• Poutama TrustsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor with GreenMount for the Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year award.
• Loren Taylor Events CreativesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvents creative partner providing event design and production services.
• HumanitixsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTicketing partner that donates 100% of booking fee profits to children's charities.
• Motuihe GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPR and media liaison partner for the awards programme.
• Canterbury TechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tech community partner representing Canterbury technology sector.
• NZ Tech PodcastsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast partner for tech community engagement and coverage.
• Tech in the TronsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tech community partner (Waikato region).
• First FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to administer scholarships, providing multi-year support for individuals wanting to enter the tech sector.
• Animation Research Ltd (ARL)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIan Taylor (Ngāti Kahungunu), Managing Director of ARL, created the Land of Voyagers education programme. Partnership through Matauranga Māori initiative.
• Amazon Web ServicessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter of the NZ Hi-Tech Awards programme.
• University of AucklandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing academic and innovation connections to the awards ecosystem.
• Pacific ChannelsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting innovation and growth in the Pacific tech ecosystem.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Stevie Awards: The Stevie Awards is an international business recognition programme with multiple award categories including technology, innovation, and customer service. It is a broad incumbent with much larger global scale, providing comparable recognition but across many more industries than the NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
• The Webby Awards: The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, is the leading global recognition programme for internet and digital excellence. It is a broad incumbent operating a much larger multi-category awards platform that overlaps with the NZ Hi-Tech Awards' recognition of digital/tech innovation.

Emerging players

• CIO New Zealand Awards: CIO New Zealand hosts awards recognising top IT leaders and technology initiatives in New Zealand. It operates in the same NZ technology recognition space as the NZ Hi-Tech Awards but with a narrower focus on CIO/IT leadership rather than the broader industry scope.
• iSANZ Awards: iSANZ (Information Security Awards New Zealand) recognises excellence in New Zealand's information security industry. It operates a similar annual judged awards format within the NZ technology ecosystem, but with a narrower cybersecurity-only focus compared to the broad coverage of NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

Regional players

• Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA): AIIA runs annual ICT industry awards in Australia recognising technology innovation, leadership, and contribution. It is the most direct Australian counterpart to the NZ Hi-Tech Awards, with comparable structure but operating across a larger but separate market.
• Fieldays Innovation Awards: Fieldays Innovation Awards is part of New Zealand's national agricultural expo, recognising innovation in agricultural technology. It runs a parallel sector-specific awards programme within NZ, comparable in structure (judged competition, gala announcement) but narrower in industry focus.

Direct peers

• Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA): APICTA is the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance, which runs the APICTA Awards recognising ICT innovation across member economies. Like NZ Hi-Tech Awards, it operates a multi-category annual competition with a judging process and a flagship awards ceremony, serving as the closest regional peer.
• The Edison Awards: The Edison Awards is a US-based annual awards programme honouring innovation and excellence in new product and service development. It mirrors the NZ Hi-Tech Awards' model of recognising technology innovation through a structured judging process and gala announcement, but operates at global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nzhi-techawards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nzhi-techawards
• Facebookfacebook.com/nzhi.techawards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nzhitechawards
• Instagraminstagram.com/nzhi_tech_awards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NZ Hi-Tech Awards