Native plant expert supreme at Rural Women Business Awards

Plant Hawke's Bay's Marie Taylor

Plant Hawke's Bay's Marie Taylor is the 2018 Supreme Winner of the NZI Rural Women Business Awards.

"Marie's passion, expertise and commitment to her business, the environment and her community is reflected in the outstanding work Plant Hawke's Bay carries out," says Rural Women New Zealand national president Fiona Gower.

The category winners competed for the Supreme Award announced at the awards ceremony last week in the Banquet Hall at Parliament.

"Being a part of the NZI Rural Women New Zealand Business Awards is a tremendous opportunity for me and a wonderful way to showcase Plant Hawke's Bay and build its profile, enabling me to tell my native plant story," said Marie Taylor.

"It is also great to meet other inspiring rural women and hear of their stories of business success."

"These awards recognise the sheer hard work, dedication and entrepreneurship that goes into developing rural enterprises," says the awards premier partner, NZI rural manager Jon Watson.

"Plant Hawke's Bay grew from Marie's desire to save local plant species by getting them back into their natural landscape. Marie and her team focus on eco-sourcing seeds and cuttings from Hawke's Bay, ensuring the regeneration of local plant species for future generations."

Category winners

Creative Arts: Sophie Siers — Millwood Press Ltd, Hawke's Bay
Emerging Business: Hannah O'Brien — Hunt and Gather Bee Co, Waikato
Innovation: Bridget Canning — WIZwireless, Wairarapa
Love of the Land: Marie Taylor — Plants Hawke's Bay, Hawke's Bay
Rural Champion: Robyn McKenzie — Fly My Sky, Taumarunui