New Zealand’s top events recognised at NZEA Awards 2017

The 2017 World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at ILT Stadium Southland has secured a pair of awards at the New Zealand Events Association Awards.

Held in Invercargill in February, the Championships, widely heralded as the best event in the competition’s 40-year history, was named Best International Event of the Year while ILT Stadium Southland was named Best Industry Supplier for an Event by the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA).

Presented at a ceremony held at Auckland’s SKYCITY on Wednesday (11th October), WOMAD New Zealand 2017 was named Best National Event of the Year, Barfoot & Thompson’s backing of the World Masters Games was awarded for named Best Sports Event Sponsorship of the Year while Mike Wootton was named Event Sponsorship Professional of the Year and Jennah Wootton was named Event Professional of the Year.

Described as aa bumper year for events in New Zealand, Awards submissions covered the country from Cape Reinga to Bluff, with new categories and an exceptionally high standard of entrants.

NZEA Chair Andy Scotland said the programme celebrates boundaries pushed, benchmarks set and innovations achieved in hosting events countrywide.

Scotland explained “we drew a similar amount of entries as 2016, however felt that the standards were raised once again, making the shortlisting even harder this year. The judges have done an exceptional in identifying our winners from many impressive entries.”

The winners had to win the approval after close scrutiny by the judging panel, which comprised: Stephen Wainwright, Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand; James McGlinn, Chief Executive EventFinda; Hetty van Hale, Communications Manager at Infinity Investment Group; Callum Mallett, of the New Zealand International Convention Centre; Mandy Deans, Event Manager at Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow; Michael Boggs, Chief Executive, NZME; ATEED Deputy Chair, Norm Thompson; Karl Budge, Tournament and Commercial Director at Tennis Auckland, and Mike Keech, Sponsorship and Licensing Manager at WelTec and Whitireia New Zealand.

Scotland added “events make a significant contribution to the economy, enhance New Zealand’s cultural status and provide locals and visitors alike with the opportunity to expand horizons and enjoy themselves.”

The winners are:

Best Community Event of the Year 
Waitangi Tuwharetoa Ki Pukawa Festival 2017

Best Regional Event of the Year 2017
Pop-up Globe Auckland

Best National Event of the Year 2017 sponsored by New Zealand Major Events
WOMAD New Zealand 2017

Best International Event of the Year 2017 sponsored by New Zealand Major Events
2017 World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships

Best Business Event of the Year 2017 sponsored by Celebrity Speakers
Pinot Noir New Zealand 2017

Best Industry Supplier for an Event 2017 sponsored by Marsh Insurance
ILT Stadium Southland for the 2017 World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships

Best CSR or Community Event Sponsorship of the Year 2017
Flight Centre Foundation Halberg Watersports Programme

Best Arts or Cultural Event Sponsorship of the Year 2017 sponsored by Creative New Zealand
ASB for Auckland Lantern Festival

Best Sports Event Sponsorship of the Year 2017
Barfoot & Thompson for World Masters Games 2017

Emerging Event Professional of the Year 2017 sponsored by Eventfinda
Tim Day (NZ Trail Runs)

Event Sponsorship Professional of the Year 2017
Mike Wootton (ASB)

Event Professional of the Year 2017 sponsored by H3
Jennah Wootten

New Zealand’s Favourite Event of the Year 2017 public vote hosted by Eventfinda
Repco Beach Hop 2017

Click here for more information.

Image: Crowds at the 2017 World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships (top) and the opening ceremony of the World Masters Games 2017 (below)

10th October 2017 - H3 HELPS SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON EVENT INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE

17th July 2017 - EVENTFINDA PARTNERS WITH VODAFONE WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY

1st May 2017 - CURTAIN FALLS ON ‘BEST GAMES EVER’

28th April 2017 - WORLD SHEARING AND WOOLHANDLING CHAMPIONSHIPS A BOOST FOR SOUTHLAND 

12th April 2017 - WORLD MASTERS GAMES PREPARES TO WELCOME 28,000 COMPETITORS TO AUCKLAND

31st May 2016 - NEW ZEALAND’S MAJOR SPORTS COMMIT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

16th February 2016 - POP-UP GLOBE SECURES NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR 

21st September 2015 - STADIUM SOUTHLAND INSURERS AWARDED NEARLY $17 MILLION IN DAMAGES AFTER 2010 ROOF COLLAPSE  

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