There are just two weeks left to enter the NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards 2024 before entries close on 26 July.
“Our Business Awards recognise entrepreneurial excellence in rural communities and provide a fantastic opportunity for
women who own and operate rural enterprises to showcase their achievements and hard work,” says Rural Women New Zealand
National President Gill Naylor.
“With just two weeks left we want to ensure as many creative and innovative rural women take the opportunity to enter as
possible. Creating and running your own business or enterprise is always hard and can be even harder in a rural setting
so these Awards are a great chance for them to celebrate and engage with other like-minded entrepreneurs.”
“With such a wide variety of initiatives owned and operated by rural women across Aotearoa New Zealand, we have reviewed
and updated this year’s Award categories to better reflect this increased diversity,” Gill says.
The NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards 2024 include the following categories:
Emerging business: Awarded to a business or enterprise starting out in its journey and achieving exceptional results. Open to
businesses/enterprises that have been running from 2-5 years.
Love of the Land: Harnessing the potential of New Zealand’s land, environment or products of the land, to create a successful enterprise.
Creative at Heart: Businesses that create and showcase original art, products or goods made using rural materials creative or in rural
environments.
Innovation: An enterprise that challenges the status quo to bring something new and innovative to the market or utilising rural
resources in an innovative way.
Rural Champion: A person, business or rural enterprise that champions the rural sector or provides a service to a rural community; an
outstanding contributor who consistently goes above and beyond the norm in their support for the rural sector.
Rural Health and Wellness Excellence: Recognising an enterprise that makes an outstanding contribution to supporting the health and wellness of our rural
communities in New Zealand.
Experience Rural: Enterprises inspired by Aotearoa’s diverse, natural resources to deliver unique experiences and showcase rural
hospitality.
A Supreme Award winner who demonstrates excellence and outstanding achievement across all judging criteria will also be chosen from the
category finalists.
All Award winners receive $1,000 in prize money and a trophy presented in front of their peers at the NZI Rural Women NZ
Business Awards Ceremony in Wellington in November. They also receive a free one-year membership to Rural Women New
Zealand. The NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards Supreme Winner receives a further $1,000 in prize money.
“Once again, we are really pleased to have NZI as a partner for these Awards,” Gill says. “Like Rural Women New Zealand,
they are passionate about supporting and highlighting the vital role of women in our rural communities.”
Entries for the NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards 2024 close at 5pm on Friday 26 July.Background
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is a nationwide charitable membership organisation with a proud history over nearly 100
years of empowering and supporting women to be at the heart of rural communities. With regional branches across the
country providing connection and support, we are recognised as a leader across the rural sector and provide a trusted
voice on issues affecting rural communities.