Trimax Mowing Systems has taken out the prestigious Exporter of the Year title at the 2025 ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards, celebrating the Tauranga-based manufacturerโs rapid international growth and deep commitment to innovation.
Held at Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui, the awards recognised the standout performers among the regionโs thriving export community. Trimax impressed judges with its strong dealer networks across the US, UK and Australia, and the global appeal of its high-performance mowers โ trusted by everyone from groundskeepers at Windsor Castle to PGA golf course maintenance crews in the US.
With more than 33,000 mower decks sold globally and revenue tripling over the past five years, Trimax stood out for embedding innovation across the business. Judges praised its ability to grow a niche export product into a world-class offering with sustained international demand.
Other major category winners on the night included:
Excellence in Innovation
Winner: Oasis Engineering
Oasis Engineering, also based in Tauranga, was recognised for its cutting-edge approach to product development in high-pressure control devices for alternative fuels like hydrogen and compressed natural gas. Judges called the company โan exemplar in the use of automation and robotics,โ highlighting its design thinking-led innovation process and widespread global reach, with exports to more than 40 countries.
Best Emerging Business
Winner: Carepatron
Cloud-based healthcare platform Carepatron was acknowledged for its impressive early-stage export success, particularly in the US market. Founded in 2021, the business leverages AI across its platform and customer support, and is now experiencing rapid growth as it scales internationally. Judges applauded its deep understanding of customer needs and tight execution.
Export Achievement Award
Joint Winners: Sarah Webb (LawVu) and Karl Stevenson (Bluelab)
Sarah Webb, Chief Operating Officer of legal tech firm LawVu, was recognised for her instrumental role in growing the Tauranga startup into a globally recognised platform. As the companyโs first employee, she helped bring the foundersโ vision to life and has remained a driving force behind its expansion.
Karl Stevenson, Head of Product at agri-tech exporter Bluelab, was celebrated for his design-led, customer-focused approach to innovation, having also held key roles at Trimax. Stevenson is a recognised advocate for design thinking and a key connector within the Tauranga innovation ecosystem.
Services to Export Award
Winner: Steve Saunders
Long-time entrepreneur and agri-tech pioneer Steve Saunders received the top individual honour for his extensive contribution to the regionโs export landscape. Co-founder of Robotics Plus and several other export-focused ventures, Saunders has played a pivotal role in building Taurangaโs reputation as a hub for high-value innovation. His mentorship, leadership, and advocacy for Mฤori investment in agriculture were among the many contributions highlighted by judges.
The event, organised by the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) on behalf of ExportNZ, brought together leaders from across the Bay of Plentyโs export sector, with support from principal sponsor ASB and other key partners including Sharp Tudhope, Air New Zealand Cargo, Zespri and Port of Tauranga.
EMA Chief Executive John Fraser-Mackenzie said the awards were a celebration of the regionโs economic engine room.
โThese awards showcase the inspiring businesses and individuals from the region who are succeeding in offshore markets. Well done to all the winners.โ
ExportNZ Bay of Plenty Chair Warwick Downing echoed the sentiment, noting the regionโs ability to โcompete, and thrive, on the world stage.โ
