From gin to juice, judges deciding the winners of the sixth ExportNZ ASB Hawke's Bay Export Awards have a challenge on their hands after a record number of entries.
A high-calibre field of finalists for the awards were announced on Monday, leaving plenty of work for the award judges, ASB head of international trade Fergus Lee, NZTE director Wayne Norrie, Callaghan Innovation specialist Jenny Brown, Napier Port chairman Alasdair Macleod, and NZTE regional manager Katrina Buscke to decide the winners.
Lee said the quality of the entries was high.
"There are great companies out there doing great stuff the length and breadth of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, so we know the overall winner will be right up there when it comes to representing the region at the national awards."
ExportNZ Hawke's Bay executive officer Amanda Liddle said the record entries were easily at a standard on par with the previous five competitions.