Here they are, the finalists of the 2023 Queenstown Business Awards.
A huge congratulations to you all — your business has stood out as deserving finalists among close to 100 other entries.
Ka rawe!
The finalists have been selected by an independent judging panel, led by Dr John Guthrie.
The feedback passed on to me was there was some stiff competition and ‘‘outstanding entries’’.
Queenstown businesses truly are world-class, tough and innovative.
To all entrants, you should be proud.
Great work taking the time to evaluate your business and submit an entry.
If you didn’t make it as a finalist this year, I hope you found the process a valuable reflection on all you have done and can do.
We cannot wait to celebrate with you all and announce the winners at the awards party on Saturday, November 4 — tickets are on sale now and will go fast.
We’re also looking forward to celebrating on the night with our new wine partner Gibbston Valley — the bubbles will be excellent and flowing, and we promise you’ll be in for a great night.
Cheers to you all, and best of luck for awards night.
Sharon Fifield, Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chief executive
Excellence in innovation, sponsored by Beca
Outback NZ
ESTABLISHED in 1988, Nomad Safaris (Outback NZ) has a proud history offering authentic small group tours in NZ’s backcountry. Its mission is to connect people with the country, land and spirit of adventure, enjoying true off-roading by ATV or 4WD, exploring the wilderness by foot or e-bike on unique guided experiences. They are backcountry adventures rich in scenery, history, filming locations and
local legends. In recent years the business has expanded to include Info & Track (providing track transport) and Info & Snow (providing ski area transport).
First Table Ltd
FOUNDED and headquartered in Queenstown, First Table has rapidly evolved from an innovative earlybird dining concept into a formidable player in the global hospitality sector. Today, as one of NZ’s leading hospitality technology companies, First Table is positioned as a restaurant discovery platform with operations across Australia, NZ, the UK, Ireland and Canada. First Table’’s mission is as straightforward as it is ambitious — to revolutionise the dining experience for both customers and restaurants alike and connect people through the shared love of food. Its success is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of Queenstown, and founder Mat Weir.
Kia Ora Digital
FOUNDED in October, 2021, Kia Ora Digital is a dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking ‘search engine optimisation’ (SEO) agency based in Queenstown. Its primary focus is to elevate the digital presence of local businesses through strategic website optimisation and have them appear in the best possible positions online. Kia Ora Digital specialises in a range of SEO and digital marketing services, including comprehensive audits, e-commerce and service-based SEO, local and international SEO strategies, and ongoing website speed and performance optimisation. Its mission is to empower businesses to unlock their full online potential, drive growth, and reach new heights.
Excellence in people and capability, sponsored by SIT/Te Pukenga
Medenterprises
A B CORP-certified, purpose-driven business ecosystem, Medenterprises subsidiaries include Medrecruit, Australasia’s largest staffing agency, and Medworld, a work-life operating system connecting staff through technology. They are using leading technologies and people to improve medical staffing, understanding a well-staffed healthcare system with fulfilled medical professionals leads to better patient outcomes, and when they succeed, they indirectly touch the lives of everyone.
Active Adventures
QUEENSTOWN-based Active Adventures is NZ’s largest and most globally-diverse adventure travel company. Together with its recently-acquired US subsidiary, Austin Adventures, it has over 60 years of combined experience delivering all-inclusive, small-group outdoor adventures all over the world. Each of its 100-plus trips across 24 countries is crafted to perfection, encouraging guests to challenge themselves physically through hiking, biking, kayaking, for example, and take a deep dive into the local way of life in every destination. Active Adventures’ team of 140 office staff and guides based in NZ and around the globe ensure every aspect of every trip is meticulously attended to, guaranteeing the satisfaction of thousands of guests every year.
Future Hospitality Group
CO-owned by James Ace and Bert Haines, Future Hospitality Group is an industry innovator creating unforgettable experiences and venues that are “across the street from ordinary”. The Queenstown-based group’s dedicated to delivering outstanding hospitality through dynamic dishes, exceptional drinks and epic service. Emphasising strong relationships with their diverse global team, industry colleagues and the local community over 12 years in business , they have gone from strength to strength. Venues include Margo’s, Little Blackwood, Queenstown Ice Bar, Odd Saint, Minus 5° ICE Bar and Little Mez. With a new outlet opening this summer, their continuing mission to
deliver exceptional hospitality isn’t slowing down any time soon.
Best emerging business, sponsored by Findex
Tāke Tuia Ltd
ESTABLISHED in 2021, driven by a desire to find opportunities in adversity, Darren started Tāke Tuia, with a desire to connect cultures. The business works to support Māori whānau, but also businesses and organisations looking to connect and engage with Māori. It engages with people in kindergartens to corporate boardrooms and government offices. From Glenorchy to San Francisco, from TV to film and in between, Tāke Tuia has provided services. Its growth has come from leading organisations and people to connect with mātauranga (Māori knowledge), and laying the foundations for a better future.
Mountainwatch Travel
MOUNTAINWATCH Travel is a new travel and events business, established in Queenstown in June, 2021. The company primarily offers inbound ski and snowboard holidays to Queenstown and Wānaka, outbound ski and snowboard holidays to Japan and North America and organises Queenstown snow/music destination event, Snow Machine. With a team of 20 full-time staff in Queenstown, Mountainwatch Travel, along with Snow Machine Festival, have brought 10,000-plus guests to the area this year alone, with investment to the area exceeding $15 million, and big plans for the future of the business across all areas.
Country Lane Ltd
QUEENSTOWN’S Country Lane was born when Bruce Grant and Tineke Enright’s parents, fourth-generation farmers Bill and Tilly Grant, retired from sheep farming in 2014. With a strong love for the land, the siblings sought to protect and enhance the farm and its heritage buildings. They strive to celebrate the Whakatipu’s farming history and its pioneering community by relocating some of the resort’s most iconic buildings to the property. Country Lane’s a unique retail village with large green spaces and farm animals. It hosts a vibrant community of local businesses, ensuring a memorable experience for visitors of all ages and interests.
Excellence in community contribution, sponsored by Queenstown Airport
Headlight Trust
THE Queenstown-based charitable trust is leading the way in helping communities to support their mental wellbeing. Headlight does this through education — by increasing people’s mental health knowledge and skills so they’re better equipped to look after their mental health needs and know how to support those around them who are struggling. The trust focuses on reaching those who’d benefit most, helping build a community better equipped to care for itself and each other. To date, nearly 500 community members have had free/subsidised mental health education thanks to Headlight, which is growing healthier, more resilient communities.
Skyline Queenstown
SKYLINE Queenstown is New Zealand’s most popular tourism attraction and the must-do activity in the resort, attracting over 20 million visitors since its humble beginnings in 1967 and 550,000 visitors last year alone. In the heart of Queenstown, and accessed by its new state-of-the-art 10-seat gondolas, Skyline offers fun, affordable and unforgettable experiences for all ages and budgets. Guests can enjoy the globally-recognised luge, access the 30 world-class mountain biking trails, or dine in Stratosfare, enjoying the best of local and international cuisine, surrounded by the most awe-inspiring scenery NZ has to offer.
Te Atamira
TĀHUNA Queenstown’s arts and cultural centre Te Atamira has a vision to be a platform for creativity to flourish for everyone, ever day. Home to 22 fit-for-purpose spaces for hire, a dynamic curated programme of exhibitions, events, shop and ticketing services, it is recognised as turangawaewae, place to stand, for creativity. The aim of Te Atamira is to foster, promote and facilitate wide community interest and involvement in the arts, culture, and the creative industries for recreational, educational, social and cultural purposes. It’s recognised as a safe and inclusive space that supports and celebrates the community’s diversity.
iFLY
iFLY Queenstown, NZ’s only indoor skydiving operation, was opened in 2018 and bought by locals Matt and Amy Wong in 2021. During and post-Covid the importance of balancing commercial success with staff and community wellbeing hit home. This was further enforced as the perception at the time was that tourism businesses operate with limited social licence. Striving to change this perception, while also supporting a cause that resonated with them, The Whakamana Youth Empowerment Programme was created.
Excellence in marketing, sponsored by Shotover Creative
Canyon Brewing
THE team at Canyon believes good beer should be served fresh and shared with friends. Be that on top of a mountain, laying on the beach, or even on the couch, they don’t believe in boring, continuously putting innovative measures into play to challenge the ideas of what beer is and what it can be. Creativity is ingrained in Canyon’s DNA and their brewers love to experiment with fresh new styles, seasonal ingredients and all the latest techniques.
Medrecruit
LIFE as a doctor demands you give everything. Dr Sam Hazledine learned this working in the field — in 2006, Medrecruit was his response.
Since then, Medrecruit has become Australasia’s largest medical staffing agency. It makes career wellbeing easy for doctors, by making the job search process easy, offering a free service that includes finding jobs, and handling all the logistics. This frees up doctors’ time for more
important things, like saving lives. Wellbeing is at Medrecruit’s core, which is why it’s B Corp-certified and amended the Declaration of Geneva to include the ‘‘health and wellbeing of doctors’’.
QT Queenstown
A BOUTIQUE 5-star property on the shores of Lake Whakatipu, QT Queenstown is beloved for its signature quirk and ‘unexpected, unrequested’ signature service. QT Queenstown has become a hub for locals and international guests alike, while the luxury property’s won accolades including Hotel of the Year 2023 at the Hospitality NZ awards, Conde Nast Reader’s Choice 2021 and TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best for 2021 and 2022. QT Queenstown prides itself on creating exceptional guest experiences and bringing world-class food and beverage offerings to Queenstown.
Exellence in diversity and inclusion, sponsored by Queenstown Lakes District Council
RealNZ
LEADING tourism business RealNZ offers NZ experiences that help the world fall in love with nature, and by extension, conservation, in Ata Whenua Fiordland, Whakatipu Waimāori Queenstown, Rakiura Stewart Island, Wānaka, and Ōtautahi Christchurch. The journey started in 1954 when Southlanders Les and Olive Hutchins began sharing Doubtful Sound’s wilderness with the world so guests would cherish and respect it. In 2021, it rebranded as RealNZ, reflecting Les and Olive’s enduring purpose: a dedication to preserving the environment and its biodiversity. The company aims to inspire every guest with respect for our natural world and hope when they leave, they become advocates for conservation.
Wynn Williams
ONE of the oldest law firms in Aotearoa, Wynn Williams boasts 27 partners leading the team of 150-plus lawyers and support staff in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Ōtautahi Christchurch and Tāhuna Queenstown. As a firm, it is recognised for its expertise in corporate advisory and
transactions, dispute resolution, local government and environmental law, and its specialist insurance, property, construction, and employment capability. Its clients include corporates, businesses, institutions, and individuals, here in Aotearoa and further afield.
xtravel
THE xtravel team’s constantly evolving to meet the needs of its clients and the world of travel. With a new office, enhanced team, dedication to sustainability, and commitment to inclusion and diversity, xtravel’s more equipped than ever to curate exceptional and extraordinary travel experiences that leave lasting memories. Additionally, it is ramping up its efforts to promote inclusion and diversity awareness, understanding the importance of offering travel experiences that cater to a wide range of backgrounds, preferences and abilities. xtravel’s goal is to create a travel community that welcomes everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, and is investing in upskilling its team to ensure xtravel remains at the forefront of inclusive and diverse travel offerings.
Excellence in sustainable & regenerative business practice, sponsored by Destination Queenstown
Millbrook Resort
NESTLED in historic Arrowtown, Millbrook Resort offers a luxury home away from home. Its 650-acre (263ha) paradise blends nature with luxury, prioritising sustainability. The Millbrook team provides exceptional guest experiences with award- winning dining, two 18-hole golf courses, a spa, fitness centre and conference venues. It proudly embraces responsible tourism, leading with eco-conscious practices. More than just luxury, Millbrook Resort is a sanctuary where guests connect with nature and create lasting memories, knowing their stay contributes to a better future for our planet.
Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa
HILTON Queenstown Resort & Spa boasts 220 spacious guest rooms and eight meeting spaces, signature lakefront restaurant Wakatipu Grill, and Stacks Pizza & Burger Bar. Its eforea spa at Hilton features 10 treatment rooms, a 25m indoor lap pool, saunas and steam rooms, a hot tub and fitness centre. General manager Chris Ehmann says they’re thrilled to be recognised for their efforts to preserve and enrich the environment and community they call home. ‘‘We believe that sustainability is not a choice, but a responsibility we proudly embrace.’’
Country Lane Queenstown Ltd
Excellence in customer experience, sponsored by QT Queenstown
Shotover Jet
DELIVERING exhilarating experiences to over 4 million manuhiri (guests) since starting operations in 1965, Shotover Jet offers exclusive access to the stunning Shotover (Kimiākau) Canyons. Infused with Ngāi Tahu culture, Shotover Jet is more than just a thrill ride; it’s a cultural touchstone that pays homage to the cherished local area. The custom-designed jet boats, capable of high speeds and 360-degree spins, offer an experience like no other. It’s their dedication to the manuhiri experience and passion for the local community that make the team proud to be a Queenstown Business Awards finalist.
Both Brains
BOTH Brains provides managed IT services for small local businesses to large multi-national companies. As digital natives, the team understands the complexities of modern business IT, and wants to help simplify that. Both Brains’ goal is to do everything it can to make sure it gives reliable, cost-effective and efficient IT support. A business built on working together and collaborating as partners, just like the left and right side of our brains, Both Brains is a representation of the digital and analog brains, logic and creativity, and their clients and them.
Altitude Tours
ALTITUDE Tours operate top-rated small-group day tours from Queenstown to Milford Sound, Gibbston’s wine region, Central Otago, Mount Cook, Glenorchy and Paradise. Their philosophy is to provide personalised small-group experiences. The company has won local, national and international acclaim by curating unique tours that surprise and delight their customers. An unwavering dedication to the customer experience has enabled them to grow their day tours, partner with Tourism NZ on global advertising campaigns and win multiple awards,
including the NZ Tourism Awards for Innovation and Resilience in 2022.
Little Blackwood
LITTLE Blackwood, nestled on Steamer Wharf, offers an extraordinary bar experience against the backdrop of Lake Whakatipu and the Remarkables. Crowned ‘NZ’s best bar’ in the 2022 Hospitality NZ Awards, it’s a beloved destination for locals and tourists. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, their skilled bartenders serve up expertly-crafted cocktails, complemented by nightly live music. Welcoming staff, who never forget a familiar face, ensure guests feel at home the moment they step through the door. Whether you choose the cosy fire, leather banquettes, the bar, or the heated lakefront deck, Little Blackwood guarantees unforgettable moments and exceptional service.
Excellence in strategy & business solutions, sponsored by 2degrees
Skyline Queenstown
First Table Ltd
Active Adventures
People’s Choice voting open
WHILE a panel of expert judges is responsible for picking the winners of the nine categories in this year’s Queenstown Business Awards, there’s one that’s up to you.
Voting is now open for Mountain Scene’s People’s Choice Award, via scene.co.nz, for which every finalist is eligible.
And voting couldn’t be easier — just jump on the website, follow the link on our home page, and give your click to the business or organisation you think’s most deserving.
Voting runs until noon, Thursday, November 2; winners will be announced at the award’s gala and dinner, at Walter Peak, on November 4.
