New Zealand Innovators Awards

New Zealand Innovators Awards

• Entries are open until August 4th
• Bayer New Zealand once again on board as Foundation Sponsor

Auckland, 17 July, 2015 - The New Zealand Innovators Awards (NZIA) are open for entries until August 4th, and awards organisers are on the hunt for ordinary New Zealanders doing extraordinary things!

The awards look to recognise the next wave of innovators, innovations and organisations that have invested in developing new products, services and ventures, as well as improving the performance of their people and teams. Entries can come from a broad range of industries: from technology, to sport, agriculture, health, food, sustainability or even music.

Bayer New Zealand is once again on board as Foundation Sponsor, and as a company steeped in innovation globally, it is encouraging Kiwis to showcase their innovation talent to the country – and the world.

Holger Detje, Bayer NZ’s Managing Director, says: “Bayer is a global innovation leader and we’ve seen the difference that an innovative idea can make. We have many partnerships and collaborations around the world with external parties, and here in New Zealand particularly with universities – and we love to see Kiwis driving innovation, and showcasing New Zealand’s talent to the rest of the globe.

“Bayer is the only company simultaneously researching improvements in human, animal and plant health, so we’re particularly excited to see what comes out at this year’s NZIA in those areas.”

As part of its support of the awards, Bayer sponsors the Supreme New Zealand Innovator category, in which evaluators select an outstanding entry to be named New Zealand’s most innovative organisation or individual.

In 2014, the Supreme New Zealand Innovator was Precision Seafood Harvesting, which developed a new way of harvesting fish using a trawling system that sees fish contained and swimming in a large, flexible PVC liner. Holes in the liner allow small fish to escape, and once on deck, any non-target fish can be returned to the sea alive and unharmed.

Bayer New Zealand’s Detje adds: “Precision Seafood Harvesting is a fantastic example of innovation through collaboration, and the result is a system that supports environmentally sound fishing practices. It’s exactly this type of multi-pronged approach that we are so passionate about – particularly when it has the power to have such a positive impact on sustainability in the world.”

Dave Woods from Precision Seafood Harvesting encourages other New Zealand businesses and individuals to enter the awards.

“New Zealand's future success is dependent upon its ability to innovate. Winning the 2014 Supreme NZ Innovator award was recognition of the progress achieved by our team towards the goal we've set of changing the way New Zealand and the world fishes. Entering these awards among other New Zealand innovators is a real honour and a great year-long learning experience.”

Entries for the NZ Innovators Awards are open until August 4th. Find more information and enter at www.innovators.org.nz

The Awards evening will be held on October 21st at The Cloud on Auckland’s Waterfront.

ENDS

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