One of newest jewels in Mid Canterbury’s tourism crown has been named the Supreme Award winner at this year’s ANZ Business of the Year Awards.

Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa took out a raft of awards during last night’s ceremony, including the top prize.

It also won Excellence in Customer Experience – large, Excellence in Tourism, and Excellence in Technology and Innovation – large.

Awarding the top prize, the judges said the Methven tourism offering was an “outstanding business all round, a new business set up with very smart thinking and very clever people, and they have made some bold statements about what they are going to achieve”.

“Their business model is firmly focused on their people and their customers, and they use technology to support this focus. Overall, inspirational.”

Aside from Opuke, a wide range of Mid Canterbury businesses went home with gongs last night.

Tavendale and Partners took out the Excellence in Professional Services category, with judges noting their “fresh thinking and pivoting”.

“Their questioning about what a local practice needs to look like in the future was evident and they were a clear winner.”

The Excellence in Community Impact award went to Kai for Kids.

“This field was full of immensely deserving organisations doing amazing things for our local community, but Kai for Kids was a standout for their structure and strategic direction and how they are responding to a really critical need in our community,” the judges said.

As well as long-established local businesses, newcomers to the sector were also recognised.

The Excellence in Emerging New Business award was won by Berry Beauty.

“An amazing team, led by an entrepreneur who has really understood the market and opportunity in Mid Canterbury, and who has continually reinvested capital into growing her business,” judges said.

ANZ Business of the Year Awards 2024

Excellence in Primary Industry

Small: Potato Cooperative

Large: May Brothers Contracting

Excellence in Customer Experience

Small: Escape Adventures

Large: Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa

Excellence in Wellbeing

Small: Juice Signs

Large: RX Plastics

Highly commended:Tavendale and Partners

Excellence in Community Impact

Kai for Kids

Excellence in Professional Services

Tavendale and Partners

Excellence in Tourism

Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa

Excellence in Manufacturing

RX Plastics

Highly commended:Cullimore Engineering

Excellence in Emerging New Business

Berry Beauty

Excellence in Business Leadership

Graeme Kennedy

Excellence in Emerging Business Leadership

Sam Cullimore

Excellence in Retail/Hospitality

Triangle Café

Highly commended:Stronecrubie and Cleavers Corner

Excellence in Technology and Innovation

Small: Cullimore Engineering

Large: Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa

Excellence in Export

Small: Quigley Feeds

Large: RX Plastics

Excellence in Environmental Sustainability

Small: Jan Maree Cleaning Services

Large: Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa

Highly commended:Wrights Drycleaners

Supreme Award

Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa