KEY POINTS:
Dairy giant Fonterra emerged the big winner of the TelstraClear Trans-Tasman Business Awards in Auckland last night, taking the business of the year award.
It was the second time Fonterra had taken top honours at the awards, which celebrate business excellence in Australasia. The accolades were part of the Trans-Tasman Business Circle's gala dinner celebrating the 25-year anniversary of Closer Economic Relations or CER - New Zealand's first bilateral trade agreement.
Other winners included bathroom fittings manufacturer Methven, which took away the innovative company of the year award.
Broadcast and telecommunications company Kordia was crowned emerging company of the year and Jonathan Ling, chief executive of Fletcher Building, was business leader of the year.
The event was attended by more than 300 business and political leaders, including Prime Minister Helen Clark.
TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth said the awards were a unique opportunity to celebrate excellence within the transtasman business community.
"It is my hope that these success stories serve as an inspiration to other businesses embarking on the transtasman pathway."
