Rocket Lab triumphs at New Zealand Innovation Awards

Rocket Lab members Jamie France, James Ensor, Alex Hannon, Scott de Jong, Kerryn Beck, Peter Beck (chief executive), Shaun O'Donnell, Lauren Voyce, Morgan Bailey and Bill Hughes. Photo/Supplied

Hard work has paid off for a global company with links to Hawke's Bay at the New Zealand Innovation Awards this week.

Rocket Lab, which has a launch pad on the Mahia Peninsula, won big taking out two categories at the awards ceremony in Auckland on Thursday night.

The company was named the Bayer Supreme New Zealand Innovation for 2017, as well as winning the award for innovation in design and engineering.

Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck said the awards were a confirmation of the company's hard work.

"The awards are testament to the Rocket Lab team's dedication and the belief that we can achieve what no one has before," he said.

"Innovation underpins everything we do at Rocket Lab, so to see our team recognised for that is fantastic.

"When you're striving to completely revolutionise an industry, and have a real impact on the world, you have to challenge traditional ways of thinking by solving problems in ways others would consider impossible."

In 2014 Mr Beck was named Most Inspiring Individual at the awards.

NZ Innovation Council interim chief executive Craig Cotton said the awards were recognition of the success and continued growth of Rocket Lab.

"Rocket Lab plans regular small satellite launches from Mahia Peninsula near Gisborne, opening access to space for many companies around the world.

"The Electron launch vehicle utilises 3D printing and ground-breaking technology to deliver satellites into orbit with high frequency.

"Rocket Lab can disrupt this small satellite market that can offer crop monitoring, natural disaster prediction, improved weather and maritime reporting, and search and rescue services from space."

Twenty-two awards and 14 highly-commended were handed out across 12 industry categories and eight business disciplines.

"Each year we convene these awards to help recognise and celebrate the amazing stories of innovation, impact, and success from all over Aotearoa," Mr Cotton said.

"We also aim for the awards to help join the dots within the innovation ecosystem to stimulate further connection, collaboration and creation of opportunities for our entrants, finalists and winners."

A record number of organisations and individuals entered this year and the quality of entries was incredible, Mr Cotton said.

"We've unearthed some game-changing innovations, and we look forward to seeing them continue to win, grow and have fun, as they commercialise and succeed both locally and globally."

Other winners included Fire and Emergency NZ for their Escape my House interactive tool and Burnsafe NZ who developed devices which safely neutralise unexploded landmines and ordinance without the use of explosives.

More than 700 people attended the awards ceremony at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre.