Wellington Gold Awards

Wellington Gold Awards Celebrating Inspiring Wellington Businesses The Wellington Gold Awards are an annual celebration of the greater Wellington region's business community.

The Awards Night is an important date in the business calendar, over 600 people attend a red carpet event at Wellington's iconic Embassy cinema to celebrate inspiring Wellington businesses and their teams. Special Tributes are also given to deserving individuals and special projects or initiatives that have had a positive impact on the region.

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS FinalistsWonderland ChocolateThree Ingredients, Endless Joy Wonderland Chocolate Founde...
09/06/2026

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS Finalists
Wonderland Chocolate
Three Ingredients, Endless Joy

Wonderland Chocolate Founder Kate Necklen (pictured with Co-Founder Scott Necklen) took the simplest possible idea - three ingredients, no dairy - and ran with it.

Plant-based m!lk chocolate made from fine cacao, organic raw sugar and cashews, with adventure-park branding inspired by the 1907 Miramar Wonderland Park.

Two years in, the Lyall Bay chocolate maker is in 70+ New Worlds after the 2024 Emerge competition, and won Supreme Award at the 2025 Vegan Chocolate Awards for Pineapple Chews.

102% revenue growth says shoppers have noticed.

As Kate puts it, it's like W***y Wonka and Sir David Attenborough had a love child: three ingredients, infinite charm.

“Our mission is to make delicious plant-based confectionery that is joyful and better for animals and the planet.”

www.wonderlandchocolate.co.nz
www.instagram.com/wonderlandchocolatenz
www.linkedin.com/in/kate-necklen

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS FinalistsWE LOVE LOCALBrilliantly Built BoxesOver $1 million returned to Wellington reg...
09/06/2026

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS Finalists
WE LOVE LOCAL
Brilliantly Built Boxes

Over $1 million returned to Wellington region producers. Close to $4 million across Aotearoa. Every dollar spent with a small artisan food maker ripples further through their community, reaching their staff, their suppliers, their neighbours.

We Love Local curates gift boxes from 200+ small Kiwi producers, organised by region.

A Wellington box holds only Wellington-made goods. An Otago box, only Otago.

Co-founder Valerie Reitnauer explains "We started because we believed small food producers deserved a bigger audience. Close to $4 million later, we still believe it."

What started in Kāpiti in 2018 now covers all New Zealand regions, with a growing share of orders coming from customers overseas sending gifts back to the people and places they love.

www.welovelocal.nz
facebook.com/welovelocalnz
linkedin.com/company/welovelocalnz

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS FinalistsWELLUMIOA Bedside Brain ScanWellington medtech, spun from Otago University, wi...
09/06/2026

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS Finalists
WELLUMIO
A Bedside Brain Scan

Wellington medtech, spun from Otago University, with a genuinely game-changing flagship: Axana, a portable brain scanner that detects stroke in under four minutes and light enough for ambulances and ED bays.

“From Wellington, we are creating skilled jobs, bold innovation, and products that improve lives far beyond New Zealand’s shores…” says CEO Shieak Tzeng (pictured with CTO Sergei Obruchkov)

Their patented Pulsed Gradient Free Mapping tech secured a US patent in 2025, and a first clinical study (40 stroke patients, 10 controls) is in the bag.

They've raised $7.7M+ pre-Series A (another $1.3M closing) and landed a Callaghan Innovation Arohia Trailblazer Grant of up to $5M.

Currently under 5% of stroke patients get treated in the golden hour — Wellumio wants to fix that, fast.

www.wellumio.com
www.linkedin.com/company/wellumio

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS FinalistsRewa Rewa StationPlant-dyed, solar-spun, Tinui-made Set on a 1,000-hectare hil...
09/06/2026

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS Finalists
Rewa Rewa Station
Plant-dyed, solar-spun, Tinui-made

Set on a 1,000-hectare hill farm in Tinui, this innovative business operates one of only a handful of on-farm Mini Mills in Aotearoa, transforming its own wool into branded yarn.

Installed in 2024, the solarpowered mill employs six Tinui women and manages every stage of production, creating traceable yarns from naturally coloured Corriedale, Polwarth and Gotland sheep.

What can't be achieved naturally is dyed using plants and insects. No shortcuts, no middlemen. Just the farm.

Throw in monthly Craft Days, a restored 1900 Hattersley loom, farm stays and Dark Sky tourism plans, you've got the 2025 Wairarapa Business Awards Supreme Winner.

Owner Patrizia Vieno (pictured) says “Our passion and ethos of Provenance, Sustainability, Education and Resilience is our driving force to innovate and create”.

www.rewarewastation.co.nz
www.facebook.com/RewaRewaStation
www.instagram.com/rewa_rewa_station

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS FinalistsMufftechFrom whinge to win Five years ago, Simon Stone pulled off his earmuffs...
09/06/2026

Xequals EMERGING GOLD - PRODUCTS Finalists
Mufftech
From whinge to win

Five years ago, Simon Stone pulled off his earmuffs after a long day on a construction site and asked why the options were so bad.

His wife told him to stop complaining and do something about it.

Founder Simon Stone (pictured) explains: "Three years of prototype development and real job-site testing with tradespeople later, Mufftech launched in 2023: premium Bluetooth hearing protection built by a tradie, for tradies, with serious audio quality to match."

What started as one man's fix for his own problem on a Kiwi work site is now sold in over 20 countries around the world, with the bulk of sales coming from international markets. In just twelve months, Mufftech has gone from a local New Zealand operation to a genuinely global one.

One founder, one product, one category. Not bad for a complaint that finally found its answer.

www.mufftech.com
www.instagram.com/mufftechs
www.facebook.com/MUFFTECHMUFF

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD FinalistsTIMES-7 RESEARCHEstablished in 2006, Times-7 is a New Zealand-based designer and ma...
09/06/2026

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD Finalists
TIMES-7 RESEARCH

Established in 2006, Times-7 is a New Zealand-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance fixed RAIN RFID antennas.

One of the few companies globally dedicated solely to fixed RAIN RFID antennas, Times-7 has developed deep technical expertise and a scalable, high-performance product range trusted worldwide.

“Driven by innovation, quality, and customer partnerships, we are proud to deliver RFID antenna solutions that support digital transformation and smarter supply chain visibility worldwide.” explains CEO Garry Lewis (pictured).

The company exports approximately 98% of its products through a strong network of OEMs and partners across more than 60 countries, supporting industries including logistics, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and more.

www.times-7.com
www.linkedin.com/company/times-7

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD FinalistsStorbieA Wellington SaaS quietly conquering one of the world's most regulated retai...
09/06/2026

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD Finalists
Storbie

A Wellington SaaS quietly conquering one of the world's most regulated retail markets — US pharmacy.

Storbie's pharmacy platform helps pharmacies turn care into value digitally. It is purpose-made for HIPAA-grade, complex healthcare retail, with deep integration into PioneerRx (used by ~60% of US independent pharmacies).

"Storbie has always been about empowering small businesses. With momentum in the US, we’re entering a new era of innovation.” says Founder Shane Bartle (pictured)

The 10-person team raised over NZD $1M in growth capital in December 2025 and ripped to 222% growth for the year in the US, with US pharmacy quickly becoming their largest vertical.

Based at Taiawa Tech Hub, exporting to NZ, the US and Australia, and headed for the UK next.

Enabling pharmacies digitally — and Wellington's quiet export hero.

www.storbie.com
www.facebook.com/smallfishnz
www.linkedin.com/company/storbie

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD FinalistsSolid - Sustainable Oral CareBy stripping out water and plastic, they’re shipping m...
09/06/2026

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD Finalists
Solid - Sustainable Oral Care

By stripping out water and plastic, they’re shipping more product and less packaging, slashing freight emissions and bathroom waste in the process.

Formulations are crafted to meet demanding overseas customers without losing their Aotearoa roots – thoughtful ingredients, low‑impact processes and a straight‑talking brand.

Cracking export markets has meant mastering regulations, logistics and retailer expectations while still running a nimble operation at home.

"Our expansion into Aussie hasn't been all smooth sailing, but we are happy with the progress so far!" Co-founder, Adam McConnochie (pictured with Product Tester Ruaiti McConnochie right).

Solid shows how a Wellington‑grown idea can hold its own on international shelves, proving sustainability and scale don’t have to be opposites.

solidoralcare.co.nz
www.facebook.com/solidoralcare
www.linkedin.com/company/18782938/admin/dashboard

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD FinalistsPROJECTWORKSBuilt by ex-consultants who got sick of bad software, Projectworks is t...
09/06/2026

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD Finalists
PROJECTWORKS

Built by ex-consultants who got sick of bad software, Projectworks is the SaaS platform powering 20,000+ consultants across 56 countries.

The Wellington-based team (58 FTE, 40 on Customhouse Quay) is scaling rapidly after raising a USD $12M Series A Extension, winning 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards Emerging Company of the Year, and placing #16 on the Deloitte Fast 50.

Projectworks helps consulting firms run more profitable, scalable businesses, with customers growing by 20% in their first year on the platform. From Wellington, the team is proving specialist Kiwi SaaS can compete globally.

“We’re proud to be exporting Wellington-built software to 56 different countries, helping professional services firms grow faster and more profitably.“ Matt Hayter, (pictured) Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer

www.projectworks.com
inkedin.com/company/projectworksinc

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD FinalistsFRATERWORKS Just over 3 years ago Jamie and his partner Paul were filling small bot...
09/06/2026

TMC OUTSOURCING GLOBAL GOLD Finalists
FRATERWORKS

Just over 3 years ago Jamie and his partner Paul were filling small bottles of premium perfume ingredients in their Lower Hutt kitchen at night.

"Today Frater Perfumes employs 72 staff, stocks 1,500 raw materials, and has a multi-million dollar turnover, with 99% of revenue coming from exports to the United States, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia” explains founder Jamie Frater (pictured) proudly.

Fraterworks growth in 2025 ran at 201%, following 370% the previous year.

The model is a one-stop shop for perfumers globally: aroma chemicals, essential oils, absolutes, and exclusive bases developed with French master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour.

Customers return at a rate of 62 to 65%. No marketing budget. Neither founder came from a business background. The numbers are entirely real and show no signs of slowing.

fraterworks.com

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PO Box 11/549
Wellington
6011

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+64272088780

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