Beauty brand Antipodes is the winner of the 2018 ASB Wellington Exporter of the Year, announced last week at a gala dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Entrants had to be based in the Wellington region, which includes Horowhenua, Manawatu, Tararua, and Wairarapa down to Wellington.
Antipodes also took home the Cottrell Law Excellence in Innovation Award.
Other winners on the night were recycling station manufacturer Method who won Wellington Airport Best Emerging Business; games publishers Pik Pok who won CentrePort Best Medium/Large Business; and Sell Global, a company helping businesses sell their products via Amazon, who won WREDA Services to Export, celebrating firms that support the region’s exporters.
Whittaker’s Chocolate won the Victoria University Business School Judges’ Choice award.
Antipodes’ CEO Elizabeth Barbalich said they were absolutely thrilled to have won the awards.
“Winning this award is really important to Antipodes. A lot of hard work goes into what we do and we are excited to be part of the event and to get the recognition.
“We have been humbled by the experience and it’s great to showcase that it’s achievable to take Wellington to the world.”
John Milford, Chief Executive of Wellington Chamber of Commerce and ExportNZ Wellington, said Antipodes’ win was well-deserved.
“It’s great to see a Wellington-based family-owned company who has invested heavily in innovation take the New Zealand brand to the world and do us proud.
“I also want to congratulate the other category winners and finalists. The awards are a fantastic showcase of the broad range of companies in the Wellington region who are doing great things internationally, and push our local economy along.”
The ASB Exporter of the Year Award was presented by ASB’s Head of Trade Finance, Mike Atkins.
“We congratulate Antipodes on their outstanding achievement along with all of the winners and finalists,” he said. “High quality submissions made for close and intense competition.
Winners of the Best Emerging Business, Best Medium/Large Business and Excellence in Innovation Awards become automatic finalists in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s International Business Awards.
