Southland Business Excellence Awards 2025: Meet the Finalists

The Southland Business Chamber has revealed 33 finalists across 12 hotly‑contested categories in the 2025 Datagrid Southland Business Excellence Awards. After a record 135 entries, judges spent six weeks poring over submissions that showcased the strength, resilience and innovation of our region’s enterprises.

“This year’s entries reflect the remarkable diversity and ambition of Southland’s business community,”
— Sheree Carey, CEO, Southland Business Chamber

The biennial awards culminate in a black‑tie gala at Ascot Park Hotel on Friday 19 September 2025, where more than 400 business leaders, sponsors and supporters will toast the winners and the coveted Datagrid Supreme Award.

2025 Finalists

Findex | Primary Industry Excellence Award

• Robert Dennis Racing
• The Gofer
• WM Environmental

Breen | Trade Industries Award

• Aotea Electrical
• Road Runner Panel & Paint
• Traffic Management Services

Elm Marketing | Consumer Services Award

• Hayz at The Anchorage
• Invercargill Airport
• Rakiura Distilling
• The Fat Duck Restaurant & Bar

2degrees | Professional Services Award

• Digital Stock
• Finance Now
• The Headache Clinic

ILT | Not‑for‑Profit Award

• Hospice Southland
• Insert Coin to Play
• Southern REAP

Blue River Dairy | Workplace Wellbeing Award

• Finance Now
• McCulloch & Partners
• Number 10 Youth One Stop Shop
• WM Environmental

Fi Innovations | Innovation Award 2025

• Kiwi Econet
• Pawthotics NZ
• The Headache Clinic

PowerNet | New & Emerging Award

• Garston Hops
• Southland Carbon
• The Florence Society

Rio Tinto NZAS | Workplace Safety Award

• Macaulay Motors
• Olphert Contracting
• Traffic Management Services

Meridian Energy | One to Watch Award

• Alisha Loach – The Florence Society
• Grant Lightfoot – Kiwi Econet
• Laura Thompson ONZM – āhei
• Stephen Breetzke – Pawthotics

Air New Zealand Cargo | Individual Excellence in Export Award

• Calvin Claridge – Southfish
• Chris Blenkiron – Rio Tinto NZAS
• Penny Simmonds – Former CEO, Southern Institute of Technology

Invercargill City Council | Small Business of the Year Award

• Digital Stock
• Garston Hops
• Hayz at The Anchorage
• Road Runner Panel & Paint
• Robert Dennis Racing
• Southland Carbon
• The Florence Society
• The Gofer
• WM Environmental

Category winners become contenders for the Datagrid Supreme Award.

The Chamber thanks all entrants, sponsors and judges for their dedication. Winner announcements: 19 September 2025—watch this space!