More than $16 billion worth of tech talent on show at this week’s NZ Hi-Tech Awards

The New Zealand technology sector which is the fastest growing sector in the country with more than 28,000 companies generating in excess of $16 billion worth of GDP, will soak in the glam and glitter on Friday night at the New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards.

The hi-tech industry is one of the largest export earners in the country and the awards in Auckland are the Oscars of the New Zealand tech sector, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says.

“It’s a red carpet, sell-out black-tie dinner for almost 900 people who are coming together to celebrate world leading tech firms, innovations and emerging stars of tech in New Zealand.

“NZTech is proud that the tech sector is coming together to showcase its latest and greatest technologies, entrepreneurs, investors and thinking at TechWeek. This week starts with the Tripartite Economic Summit bringing together the mayor’s offices and the investment communities from the sister cities of Auckland, Los Angeles and Guangzhou and culminates in the gala dinner with the HiTech Awards.

“This is a night to pay homage to New Zealand’s highest achieving tech companies. A NZ Hi-Tech Award is one of the technology sector’s most sought-after accolades. They have been awarded over the years to New Zealand’s most successful high-tech companies, and highest achieving individuals.

Previous winning companies include Datacom, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Navman, Xero and Orion Healthcare. Winning tech leaders have included Sir Angus Tait, Rod Dury, Ian Taylor, Sir Kern Stevens, Bill Buckley, Sir Gil Simpson, Catherine Mohr and Sir Peter Maire.

“A number of NZTech members are finalists, such as Movio, Kiwa Digital, Parrot Analytics, The Mindlab, SnapComms, Linewize and Critchlow,” Muller says.

The finalists for the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award are ARANZ Geo, Orion Health, Serko and the Vista Group.